Tens of thousands of Israelis took to the streets of Jerusalem in massive demonstrations, calling on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to resign. This is the first time such protests have occurred since the start of the war.
These protests come as the Israeli government faces increasing pressure over its handling of the Gaza war, with protesters demanding the return of over 130 hostages held captive in Gaza.The demonstrations coincided with the Israeli army’s announcement that it had recovered the bodies of six hostages kidnapped by Hamas during the October 7th attack.
This announcement sparked outrage among Israelis, with many accusing the government of refusing ceasefire agreements that could have secured the release of these hostages.Amid these tensions, opposition leaders and hostage families have called for a general strike on Monday to pressure the government into reaching an agreement to free the remaining captives.
The Histadrut labor federation has endorsed this strike, with Ben Gurion International Airport expected to shut down Monday morning.These developments come against a backdrop of escalating violence in the region, with the West Bank seeing a spike in attacks, further complicating the security situation.
The war has claimed over 40,000 Palestinian lives, including a large number of children, raising international concern over the humanitarian situation in Gaza.The protests continue to express the Israeli public’s discontent with the government, amid growing calls to hold officials accountable for the current situation, reflecting a sense of anger and anxiety within Israeli society.