The demonstrators are turning against what they call the dismantling of democracy and the decision made yesterday to resume the attacks on Gaza, which unilaterally broke the ceasefire agreement with the terrorist-stamped Hamas. According to them, it was made without regard to the remaining hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.
A distraction?
"You rule, you bear the guilt", the demonstrators chant, gathered near the parliament. Some of them hold up banners with the text "We are all hostages". Relatives in the crowd claim that Netanyahu "sacrificed the hostages", that he chose war and political survival over their lives.
We hope that people from all over Israel will join this movement, we will not stop until we have restored democracy and the hostages are free, says 68-year-old Zeev Berar from Tel Aviv.
The protest, organized by several opposition groups, is the largest in Jerusalem in months. The participants are also turning against the decision to dismiss Ronen Bar, head of the country's internal security service Shin Bet, as well as the fact that Netanyahu has not established any investigation commission after Hamas' October attack in 2023, which triggered the war.
Overall, the activists accuse Netanyahu of using the Gaza war as a distraction from domestic politics.
Trial and arrest warrant
Benjamin Netanyahu has a pending court case that has been going on for a long time. The leader has been charged with corruption, including fraud, bribery, and breach of trust. He was called to testify in court on Tuesday, but suddenly failed to appear due to "acute security consultations", reports The Times of Israel. It was then that the attacks on Gaza were resumed, on Netanyahu's direct orders.
The Israeli prime minister is also subject to an international arrest warrant, suspected of war crimes in connection with the Gaza war.
