Israelis back on the streets: Calls for Netanyahu's resignation

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 the hostages, and reiterated their demands for the resignation of the "most right-wing government" in the country's history and for early elections.

In addition to Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Beersheba, demonstrations demanding the government's resignation and the return of the hostages were held in various parts of the country, including the northern city of Caesarea, where Netanyahu's residence is located, and West Jerusalem.

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 the Israeli hostages in the Gaza Strip also directed their criticism 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. The demonstrators shouted, "(Netanyahu) Bibi, set them 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 demonstrators marched through the city and blocked traffic on some streets.

PROTESTS IN HAIFA AND IN FRONT OF NETANYAHU'S HOUSE

Speaking at the demonstration in the coastal city of Haifa, which was attended by thousands of Israelis, Israel's former 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."

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

Israelis, who want the government to resign and a deal to be signed 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 Israel to Egypt and Qatar.

The Israeli Prime Minister's Office had also issued a statement saying 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 the hostages state that they have been subjected to physical attacks during the demonstrations where they call on the government, in addition to the reactions 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 the Israeli hostages in Gaza had accused the government of remaining indifferent to their calls, demanding that a political deal be reached with Hamas and their loved ones be released.

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 in the 360-square-kilometer area, who have been experiencing land invasion and heavy bombardment following Israel's 16-year blockade, are living through one of the most severe humanitarian catastrophes of the 21st century.

Nachrichtenquelle: AA