Anti-government demonstrators have flooded the streets of Israel, demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and calling for early elections amid the country’s ongoing conflict with Hamas.
According to CNN, protesters gathered in Tel Aviv, Caesarea and Haifa on Saturday, waving Israeli flags and displaying signs featuring images of hostages, urging for their safe release.
Chants of “We are not afraid; you destroyed the country, and we will fix it. We want them (hostages) back alive and not in coffins,” echoed through the streets of Tel Aviv, as reported by CNN. Other banners advocated for the separation of religion and state, and criticised Netanyahu’s leadership, labelling him as “dangerous to Israel.”
Demonstrators demand change; protester arrested
In Haifa, demonstrators denounced the government’s failures, repeatedly accusing Netanyahu of guilt, as per CNN reports.
“Elections now!” read a banner held by one protester, reflecting the growing discontent with Netanyahu’s handling of the ongoing conflict and the plight of the hostages held since October 7.
In Tel Aviv, a protester was arrested for assaulting a police officer during the demonstration on Saturday, as confirmed by Israeli Police. Authorities also cautioned against the lighting of bonfires during protests, citing potential hazards to public safety.
“We will show zero tolerance towards those who disrupt order and resort to violence against law enforcement officers,” stated authorities, as reported by CNN.
Protests intensify in Jerusalem
Earlier in the week, tens of thousands of Israelis gathered in Jerusalem, demanding Netanyahu’s resignation and intensified efforts to secure the release of captives held in Gaza. Following protests outside the Israeli parliament on Sunday, where fires were lit and flags waved, demonstrators blocked a major thoroughfare, marking what they claimed to be the largest protest since the beginning of the Gaza conflict in October. Calls for Netanyahu’s departure resounded, met with police response including the use of water cannons to disperse the crowds.
Netanyahu faces mounting pressure as opposition to his government, along with families of the approximately one hundred hostages held by Hamas, intensifies.
Prior to the Gaza conflict, months of protests against Netanyahu’s policies, particularly concerning judicial reforms, had already occurred. Hamas’s attack on October 7, resulting in the capture of hostages and casualties, further escalated tensions in the region.
(With inputs from ANI)