At a demonstration by the families and supporters of the hostages kidnapped by Hamas, several thousand people gathered in Tel Aviv on Saturday evening and demanded more efforts from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for their release, AFP journalists reported.
Nearly a month after the Palestinian Islamist movement’s deadly attacks against Israel on October 7, several hundred people also demonstrated in Jerusalem to demand the resignation of Mr. Netanyahu, whom they consider “responsible and guilty” for failures in the country’s leadership .
According to Israeli authorities, the attacks in Israel killed 1,400 people, mostly civilians, and at least 240 people were taken hostage. Nearly 9,500 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in the Gaza Strip, which has since been relentlessly shelled by the Israeli army, according to Hamas’ health ministry.
“The families of the hostages and the missing will not return home until all the hostages are home,” says the Forum of the Families of the Hostages and the Missing, which called for the rally in Tel Aviv in front of the Ministry of Defense.
“I expect and demand that my government change its approach,” said Hadas Kalderon, whose five family members were kidnapped.
“Every day I wake up to another day of war. A war for the lives of my children,” Ms. Kalderon said.
Participants said they were determined to camp outside the ministry until the hostages returned.
In the afternoon, according to footage from Channel 12, a government member was booed during a meeting with families in Tel Aviv.
International pressure is growing on the Israeli government to accept a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, but the hostages’ relatives are making their release a sine qua non.
In Jerusalem, hundreds of people gathered outside the prime minister’s residence, chanting “Resign now” and “June 7.” October, responsible and guilty”.
“After a month of mourning, this is the largest demonstration against Netanyahu,” Yoev Lotem, a 64-year-old participant, told AFP.
Others wore T-shirts with the prime minister’s bloodstained face or stickers that read “Crime Minister.”
“We want a vote to get rid of Netanyahu. I hope the demonstrations continue and increase,” Netta Tzin, 39, told AFP, feeling “betrayed” by the prime minister’s action.
The October 7 attacks further weakened Benjamin Netanyahu, who holds the record for longevity as prime minister in Israel and has already faced massive protests against his judicial reforms for several months.
published November 4th at 10:32 p.m., AFP
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