Israelis take to the streets again: Calls for Netanyahu to resign

In Israel, the weekly Saturday protests against the Netanyahu government continued this week with high participation.

Tens of thousands of people joined anti-government groups, criticizing the political leadership's indifference toward the war in Gaza and the return of hostages, while reiterating their demands for the resignation of the "most right-wing government" in the country's history and calling for early elections.

Demonstrations demanding the government's resignation and the return of hostages were held in Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Beersheba, as well as in the northern city of Caesarea, where Netanyahu's residence is located, and in West Jerusalem, in addition to various other points across the country.

The center of the protests was Kaplan Street in the capital, Tel Aviv, where tens of thousands of Israelis gathered in the evening. The street, which was blocked off by police with iron barriers, became a symbol during the protests against the Netanyahu government's judicial reforms.

Thousands of protesters carrying Israeli flags held banners, posters, and placards against Prime Minister Netanyahu and politicians in his government, while activists gave speeches criticizing the government from a platform set up on the street.

Relatives of Israeli hostages in the Gaza Strip also directed their criticisms at Netanyahu and the government he leads in front of the nearby Ministry of Defense.

Protesters, who beat drums and blew whistles while calling for the hostages to return home as soon as possible, carried signs reading "Bring them all home now!" and "Help!", and chanted slogans blaming Netanyahu. Demonstrators shouted, "(Netanyahu) Bibi, set (the hostages) free."

Anti-government protesters who marched from Kaplan Street to the front of the ministry building continued their actions alongside demonstrators demanding a hostage exchange.

A group of thousands of protesters marched through the city and blocked traffic on some streets.

PROTESTS IN HAIFA AND IN FRONT OF NETANYAHU'S HOME

Speaking at the demonstration in the coastal city of Haifa, which was attended by thousands of Israelis, former Israeli Prime Minister and main opposition leader Yair Lapid stated, "This government is not a state. This government is a disaster for the state. We need to go to elections now to save the hostages, the soldiers, those evacuated from their homes, and the State of Israel."

In the north, more than a thousand demonstrators gathered around Netanyahu's private residence in the city of Caesarea with Israeli flags, drums, and whistles.

Israelis demanding the government's resignation and the signing of an agreement as soon as possible to bring back the hostages in the Gaza Strip blocked roads and intersections in different parts of the country.

Hamas had announced on April 13 that it had conveyed its response regarding the ceasefire proposal to Egypt and Qatar.

The Israeli Prime Minister's Office had also issued a statement indicating that Hamas's response was generally negative.

Hamas Political Bureau member and West Bank official Zaher Jabarin had stated that "they would absolutely not hand over the Israeli hostages without a real deal."

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu is accused by the Israeli and international public of not making a hostage exchange deal with Hamas for political reasons.

Senior figures in the Netanyahu government, including far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, argue that the hostages should not be Israel's top priority and that destroying Hamas is more important.

Some relatives of hostages state that they have faced physical attacks during demonstrations where they called on the government, in addition to the backlash they receive from Netanyahu supporters on social media.

According to Israeli authorities, there are more than 130 Israeli hostages in the Gaza Strip, some alive and some dead. The Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, had announced that the number of Israeli hostages killed in Israel's attacks on Gaza had exceeded 70.

Relatives of Israeli hostages in Gaza had accused the government of remaining indifferent to their calls, demanding that a political agreement be reached with Hamas to secure the release of their loved ones.

In Israel's nearly 7-month-long uninterrupted attacks on Gaza, more than 34 thousand Palestinians, mostly women and children, have lost their lives, and approximately 78 thousand people have been injured. According to human rights organizations, 2.3 million Palestinians living in 360 square kilometers, who have experienced ground invasion and heavy bombardment following Israel's 16-year blockade, are living through one of the most severe humanitarian catastrophes of the 21st century.

News Source: AA