On Saturday, tens of thousands of demonstrators waving Israeli flags and chanting slogans against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government gathered in Tel Aviv. They demanded new elections and the return of hostages held in Gaza. This massive protest is part of a series of weekly demonstrations criticizing Netanyahu’s handling of the conflict in Gaza, which has persisted for nearly nine months following Hamas's attack on southern Israel on October 7, according to AFP.
The streets of Tel Aviv were filled with protesters holding signs with messages such as “Crime Minister” and “Stop the War.” The main thoroughfare of Israel’s largest city became a sea of dissent as citizens voiced their concerns. One such protester, Shai Erel, a 66-year-old contractor, expressed his fears for the future, particularly for his grandchild. He stressed the urgency of ousting what he described as a disastrous government. Erel's disdain for the current members of the Knesset was palpable, as he remarked, “I wouldn’t let any one of them be a guard of a kindergarten.”
Hofshi Israel, an anti-government protest organization, estimated that more than 150,000 people participated in the rally, marking it as the largest since the onset of the Gaza conflict. In Democracy Square, some demonstrators lay on the ground covered in red paint to symbolize what they believe to be the death of Israeli democracy under Netanyahu’s leadership.
Yuval Diskin, a former head of Israel’s Shin Bet security agency, addressed the crowd, denouncing Netanyahu as Israel’s “worst prime minister.” Many protesters are disillusioned with the right-wing coalition government, which includes controversial figures like Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir. They accuse the government of exacerbating the war in Gaza, thereby endangering the nation's security and the lives of hostages.
Yoram, a 50-year-old tour guide who preferred not to disclose his last name, has been a regular participant in the weekly protests. He emphasized the urgent need for elections, stating, “If we go to the original date of elections in 2026, it is not going to be a democratic election.”
The conflict has had a devastating toll. Hamas militants took 251 hostages during the October 7 attack, with Israel believing that 116 remain in Gaza, including 41 presumed dead according to the army. A separate rally in Tel Aviv saw thousands of relatives and supporters of the hostages gathering in solidarity.
The October 7 attack resulted in the deaths of 1,194 people, mostly civilians, based on an AFP tally from Israeli official figures. Israel's subsequent offensive in Gaza has led to at least 37,551 deaths, predominantly civilians, according to the health ministry in Gaza. This ongoing violence continues to fuel the protests and the call for a change in government and policy in Israel.