Israel's Massive Protests Shake Nation Amid Mounting Pressure on Netanyahu

Over the weekend, thousands of people marched in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem in the biggest protests Israel has seen since the war with Hamas began. This poses a big challenge to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose leadership is facing more and more difficulties.

The protesters are upset with Netanyahu and his government for not bringing back all the hostages from the October 7 terror attack. Even though 105 hostages were released during a short ceasefire last year, there are still 130 people who were either killed or are still being held by Hamas and other militant groups.

Banners at the protests called on the Prime Minister to resign and for Israel to hold new elections.

“You’ve failed,” one poster read. “Impeachment now,” read another.

Thousands gathered in Jerusalem on Sunday to call for Netanyahu to step down.

Thousands gathered in Jerusalem on Sunday to call for Netanyahu to step down.

Ilan Rosenberg/Reuters

Police said Sunday's demonstrations in Jerusalem were dispersed by force.

Police said Sunday's demonstrations in Jerusalem were dispersed by force.

Ronen Zvulun/Reuters

Netanyahu has stated that the current war against Hamas aims to bring back the hostages, destroy Hamas, and rebuild Gaza to prevent future attacks like the one that claimed 1,200 lives last year. However, the families of the hostages and protesters from the weekend feel that the Israeli government should prioritize hostage retrieval over military or security objectives.

Aviva Siegel, one of the 17 hostages released by Hamas during a temporary truce in November, has urged Israeli authorities to take more responsibility and exert greater efforts to secure the release of her husband and other hostages held by Hamas and other militant groups in Gaza.

Siegel, 62, expressed how they are feeling at a rally in Tel Aviv on Saturday. Former Israeli prime minister and current opposition leader Yair Lapid addressed the crowds in Jerusalem on Sunday, highlighting the government's neglect of hostage families.

Lapid mentioned that despite standing outside the Kirya and screaming their hearts out, nobody seemed to hear or see them waving signs.

The protest on Sunday outside the Knesset was forcefully dispersed, but it seems that protesters are gearing up for more demonstrations. On Monday, dozens of individuals were camping in tents outside the Knesset, with some promising to stay until Wednesday when lawmakers leave for spring recess.

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The initial reaction to the events of October 7 in Israel seemed to temporarily mask deep societal divisions that have now resurfaced due to the recent protests. Leading up to the attack, hundreds of thousands of Israelis had been participating in demonstrations against government reforms proposed by Netanyahu's administration. These reforms were criticized for undermining the country's judiciary and checks and balances systems.

Despite their political differences, Israelis from all backgrounds came together in shock and horror upon learning the details of a terror attack. This attack resulted in the senseless killing of young people at a music festival and the abduction of families living on kibbutzim to Gaza against their will.

Reservists from various backgrounds answered the call to duty as the military mobilized 300,000 troops for the Gaza incursion. Meanwhile, Netanyahu's government, known as the most right-wing in Israel's history, set aside differences with opposition figures like Benny Gantz to form a unified war cabinet.

However, after nearly six months of war, this unity has started to fray. Netanyahu, who recently underwent a hernia operation, is facing pressure from the left for not doing enough to bring back the hostages. There is also a potential rebellion from the right due to exemptions from mandatory military service for Israel's ultra-Orthodox community, a long-standing issue in Israeli politics. The Israeli Supreme Court recently ruled that the government must stop funding Jewish religious seminaries whose students refuse to comply with service orders.

International pressure and outrage have been mounting as Israel continues its war, resulting in over 32,000 deaths, over a million people being displaced, and the threat of a manmade famine in Gaza.

Palestinians are surveying the destruction near Al Shifa Hospital after a two-week Israeli mission during the ongoing conflict with Hamas in Gaza City on April 1, 2024. The photo was taken by Dawoud Abu Alkas for Reuters.

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Israel claims to be following international law and has accused Hamas of using Gazans as human shields, alleging that the group is utilizing facilities like the Al-Shifa hospital complex for terrorist activities. However, Hamas has denied these accusations.

The high number of casualties and widespread destruction in Gaza have caused concern even among Israel's strongest supporters, including the United States. Recently, Washington has been urging Israel to refrain from launching a ground invasion into Rafah, a city on Gaza's border with Egypt, where over 1.3 million people, more than half of the enclave's population, are seeking shelter from the conflict.

The US and Israel are planning to have a virtual meeting on Rafah today, according to a US official. They are also aiming to have a face-to-face meeting in the future.

CNN’s Xiaofei Xu, Mohammed Tawfeeq, Gul Tuysuz, and Arlette Saenz all contributed to this report.

Editor's P/S:

The ongoing protests in Israel, the largest since the war with Hamas, highlight the growing dissatisfaction with Prime Minister Netanyahu's leadership. Protesters demand the return of hostages held by Hamas, criticizing the government for prioritizing military objectives over hostage retrieval. The demonstrations have also reignited societal divisions that had temporarily subsided during the initial shock of the October 7 terror attack.

The protests reflect a growing sense of urgency among the families of hostages and their supporters. They believe that the government has not done enough to secure their loved ones' release, despite the release of 105 hostages during a ceasefire. The continued detention of 130 people has fueled outrage and demands for accountability. The protests have also raised concerns about the government's handling of the war, including the high number of civilian casualties in Gaza and the potential for a ground invasion of Rafah. The international community has expressed concern and is urging Israel to exercise restraint. The protests and international pressure indicate that Netanyahu's leadership is facing significant challenges, both domestically and internationally.