Thousands of protesters gathered in Jerusalem on Sunday to demand an end to the government of Benjamin Netanyahu. The protests were the largest since the October 7 attacks from Gaza and marked the beginning of a “national week of protest” called by opposition leaders.
Among those who joined the protest were families of hostages kidnapped in Gaza, who saw Netanyahu as an obstacle to an exchange agreement. They moved from a square in Tel Aviv to rally against the Prime Minister, adding their voices to the chants demanding elections and criticizing Netanyahu that echoed throughout the city.
Leaders of opposition parties also participated in the march, calling on government officials to take responsibility and resign. Riot police were deployed and clashes occurred between protesters and police forces, resulting in several arrests.
Yair Lapid, the opposition leader, called on Netanyahu to step down, accusing him of failing to lead Israel effectively. The protesters plan to maintain their camp for several days and have called for daily demonstrations throughout the week in order to pressure the government into holding early elections.
Meanwhile, there were also demonstrations in an ultra-Orthodox neighborhood demanding equality in recruitment and opposing military service. These protests led to violence and arrests by police forces. The week of protests will culminate in a large demonstration in Tel Aviv on Friday, six months since the Gaza attacks and the kidnapping of hostages.
Overall, these protests reflect a growing discontent with current Israeli politics and a widespread call for change among Israelis who are unhappy with Netanyahu’s leadership style.
