Tel Aviv  - Tens of thousands of Israeli Arabs in the northern Israeli town of Sakhnin demonstrated against the ongoing military offensive in the Gaza Strip, Israeli media reported Saturday.

In what media reports said was the largest demonstration of Arabs in Israel in years, the demonstration started with a minute of silence for the victims of the attacks which continue for an eighth day.

Among the demonstrators were numerous Arab members of the Israeli Knesset (parliament).

Jamal Zahalka of the Balad party said that the Israeli leadership should be brought before an international court for "war crimes in Gaza."

Other demonstrations against the Israeli operation in Gaza are planned in Tel Aviv and Haifa.

According to polls, 85 per cent of all Israelis support the military operation, which has as its goal the halting of missile fire from the Gaza Strip. (dpa)