Israeli citizens rallied in Tel Aviv to express their growing concern for hostages held in Gaza following Qatar's announcement on Saturday to suspend its mediation efforts for a ceasefire.

Qatar's decision comes amid ongoing conflicts between Israel and Hamas, which have failed to yield any fruitful negotiations.

The protests in Tel Aviv included thousands holding signs referencing '400', marking the number of days since the October 7 attack last year when Hamas militants captured Israeli hostages.

Qatar, a significant mediator in previous efforts, withdrew its involvement citing a lack of 'willingness and seriousness' on both sides of the conflict.

Demonstrators, such as Ruti Lior, voiced their distress over the mediation halt, fearing it signals a stagnation in negotiations.

Similarly, protester Gal criticized Qatar's mediation efforts as inadequate, also placing responsibility on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The protestors displayed masks resembling Netanyahu, accompanied by signs stating 'Guilty', alongside calls for immediate hostage negotiations.

A statement from the Hostage and Missing Families Forum included a plea from Niva Wenkert, whose son Omer is among the hostages, urging an end to the bloodshed to facilitate the hostages' return.

Since the conflict began, an AFP tally reports 1,206 Israeli casualties, primarily civilians, following Hamas's attacks.

Israel's subsequent retaliatory actions have resulted in 43,552 Palestinian deaths in Gaza, many of whom are civilians, as reported by the local health ministry.

Of the 251 hostages taken, 97 remain in Gaza, with 34 confirmed dead by the Israeli military.

Weekly Israeli protests continue, advocating for greater government action to secure the hostages' release, as diplomatic efforts involving Cairo and Washington also struggle to achieve lasting peace.

A previous one-week truce in November 2023 remains the only breakthrough amidst repeated negotiation setbacks.