Multitude of Israeli citizens rally against Prime Minister Netanyahu
The durability of the Netanyahu administration in Israel is under question as more citizens take to the streets in opposition to the prime minister. These protesters allege that Netanyahu is succumbing to the requirements of his radical coalition partners, obstructing a prisoner exchange agreement for hostages confined in the contentious Gaza region.
With some of the most significant mass gatherings in Israel in recent months, over tens of thousands of people called for the downfall of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the release of hostages captive in the disputed Gaza Strip. "Alive, alive - not in body bags," chanted protesters during the evening in the coastal city of Tel Aviv.
As per local news outlets, organizers estimated around 150,000 attendees, making it the largest demonstration in Tel Aviv since the Islamist Hamas assault on October 7 of the previous year in Israel. There were also extensive protests against Netanyahu's control in Jerusalem, Haifa, Beersheba, and other locations. The public vocally demanded fresh elections.
Former Shin Bet domestic intelligence service head Juval Diskin voiced criticism of the administration at the rally in Tel Aviv and labeled Netanyahu "the most inept and disastrous prime minister in the state's history," according to "The Times of Israel." Diskin condemned the government for mismanaging the war, "the fantasy of 'complete victory,' absolute evasion of responsibility," and "the destruction of our strategic relationships with the United States." Netanyahu's administration missed "every opportunity to retrieve our abducted family members and friends."
Recently, "The Wall Street Journal" suggested that the number of surviving hostages might be close to 50. Officially, around 120 hostages are still in Gaza. Protesters blame Netanyahu for surrendering to the demands of his extremist coalition partners and blocking a hostage exchange agreement. Certain ministers are opposed to a deal with the Islamists because it also entails a weapons ceasefire and the release of Palestinian inmates from Israeli prisons.
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The ongoing demonstrations in various Israeli cities, including Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa, and Beersheba, have intensified, with protesters demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu due to his handling of the hostage situation in the Gaza Strip. Critics, such as former Shin Bet domestic intelligence service head Juval Diskin, have accused Netanyahu's administration of mismanaging the Israel war and obstructing a prisoner exchange agreement, potentially worsening the situation and prolonging the conflicts in Wars and conflicts in Israel.
