Protests erupt across Israel, demanding Gaza ceasefire

Massive crowds took to the streets across Israel on Sunday, staging nationwide protests and strikes to urge the government to reach a ceasefire deal with Hamas, aimed at securing the return of all hostages and ending military offensives in Gaza.

The protests, which began Sunday morning in multiple cities, opposed the Netanyahu government's plan to expand the war in Gaza. Demonstrators blocked highways and major routes between cities, bringing traffic to a standstill, while holding placards, beating drums, and chanting to voice their demands.

A group representing Israeli hostages and victims’ families called for a nationwide strike to protest the government's decision to expand military operations in Gaza.

In a major demonstration in Jerusalem, protesters shut down a central road, halting traffic in the city center.

"As the government plans to expand the war, which will kill the hostages, which will lead to many innocent deaths in Gaza, and we want to stop it before it's too late," said Shahar, who joined the protest in Jerusalem.

Some other participants in the rally said they wanted to show the world that many in Israel oppose the war.

"We want the world to hear that there are other opinions in Israel. Not everyone is for the war. The majority, which is silent, is against the war, against the destruction of Gaza, and we hope for peace," said Adi.

As the conflict between Israel and Hamas, which started in 2023, drags on and shows no sign of de-escalation, many protesters said they doubt there is any purpose in continuing the military operation in Gaza.

"We don’t think that there is any purpose to the war anymore, and we need to end it for the sake of the Israelis and the sake of the Palestinians as well. We are worried about our people, and we are worried about the people of Gaza, and we want to bring peace and calm to the area," said Havis, another protester in Jerusalem.

China's outstanding aggregate social financing -- the total amount of financing to the real economy -- reached 442.12 trillion yuan (about 63.4 trillion U.S. dollars) as of the end of 2025, up 8.3 percent year on year, central bank data showed on Thursday.

The country's aggregate social financing stood at 35.6 trillion yuan (about 5.1 trillion U.S. dollars) in 2025, up by 3.34 trillion yuan (about 479 billion U.S. dollars) from the year 2024, said the People's Bank of China (PBOC), the country's central bank.

According to the data, the M2, a broad measure of money supply that covers cash in circulation and all deposits, increased 8.5 percent year on year to 340.29 trillion yuan (about 48.8 trillion U.S. dollars) as of the end of December.

In addition, outstanding yuan loans stood at 271.91 trillion yuan (about 39 trillion U.S. dollars) at the end of 2025, up 6.4 percent year on year.