Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Israel and called for new elections and additional efforts by the authorities to return the hostages from Gaza home.
Protests have continued during the seventh month of the Gaza war, and the Israeli public is increasingly dissatisfied with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government’s approach to the return of 133 Israeli hostages still held by the Palestinian movement Hamas.
“We are here to demonstrate because of this government that is dragging us down, month after month – before October 7, after October 7. We have continued to spiral,” said Jalon Pickman, who attended the march in Tel Aviv.
Polls show that most Israelis blame Netanyahu for the security lapses that led to a devastating attack by Hamas members on settlements in southern Israel on October 7.
The Israeli prime minister has repeatedly rejected the possibility of holding early elections, which, according to polls, he would lose.
Netanyahu said that going to the polls in the middle of the war would be a reward for Hamas.
