Protest against Netanyahu in Israel
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Sputnik Thousands of people took to the streets this Saturday (20) in the center of Tel Aviv, Israel, to protest against the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The demonstrators demanded early elections and also the release of the hostages held by Hamas since October 7th.
Israel also announced a large demonstration in Haifa, on the country's coast, with signs calling Netanyahu the “face of evil” and calling for “Elections Now.” Pressure against the prime minister increased after it was revealed that two more Hamas hostage deaths have occurred since October 7.
Avi Lulu Shamriz, father of Alon Shamriz, a hostage accidentally killed by Israeli troops early in the war, told AFP in Tel Aviv that Netanyahu's war cabinet was heading for disaster. “The way we proceed, all the hostages will die. It is not too late to free them,” he said.
Military spokesman Daniel Hagari announced that Israeli troops had found a tunnel in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip containing around 20 hostages, including a fiveyearold child. “We have found evidence indicating the presence of hostages,” he explained.
CONTINUED AFTER RECOMMENDATIONS
The same group took to the streets to ask Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office to reach an agreement with Hamas that would guarantee the release of the hostages. Massive demonstrations broke out not far from the government complex in Tel Aviv, in front of the presidential residence in Jerusalem and the prime minister's residence in the coastal city of Caesarea, a Sputnik correspondent reported.
The escalation of the war against Hamas, in which more than 24,000 Palestinians died in the Gaza Strip alone, is triggering increasing criticism from Netanyahu's rivals. Yael Niv, who was involved in the country's government, argued that Israel needs new leadership to correct the country's course. “The elimination of Hamas will not happen through war and escalation of violence,” he added.
Netanyahu vowed to destroy Hamas in response to the movement's unprecedented attacks on October 7 that killed around 1,100 people, most of them civilians, in Israel. More than 240 people were captured at the time and at least 132 remain in the area after a weeklong ceasefire in December that allowed several people to be released. Another 27 were killed.
According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, the bombings, which have not even spared schools, hospitals and shelters, have already killed nearly 25,000 people in the Gaza Strip, most of them women and children.
The war in the country continues unabated and the Israeli prime minister has promised not to end it until Hamas members are killed. The international community complains about the lack of “clarity” about the government’s goals.
“Everyone in the country, except his toxic coalition, knows that his decisions are not for the good of the country, he is just trying to stay in office. “We all want to see him resign, but he will never do it on his own,” he emphasized to Yair Katz, 69yearold protester.
Even before the war began, Netanyahu faced protests against the reforms the government tried to implement, such as restricting the powers of the judiciary.