Thousands of Israelis demand Benjamin Netanyahu’s resignation – DW – 06/22/2024

Thousands of demonstrators protested this Saturday (06/22/2024) in several cities in Israel against the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, demanding new elections and the return of hostages held by the Islamist movement Hamas in Gaza. Participants waved Israeli flags and carried banners with slogans such as “Crime Minister” and “Stop the war”.

Such protests take place every Saturday across the country against the government’s handling of the Gaza war, with the main demonstrations taking place in Israel’s largest city, Tel Aviv, as well as in Haifa, Jerusalem and Caesarea. According to the Hofshei Israel organization, which called for the protests, this day had the largest crowd ever with around 150,000 participants.

“I’m here because I fear for my grandson’s future. There will be no future for him if we don’t get rid of this terrible government,” said Shai Erel, a 66-year-old contractor. Some protesters lay down on the ground covered in red paint in Democracy Square to denounce the “death of democracy” under Netanyahu’s government.

“The worst Prime Minister”

Yuval Diskin, the former head of Israel’s internal security agency Shin Bet, called Netanyahu the “worst prime minister” in Israel’s history in a speech. Many protesters accused the ruling coalition of conservatives, nationalists and ultra-Orthodox Jews of prolonging the war in Gaza and endangering the country’s security and the hostages.

The conflict began on October 7, when Islamist militants from Hamas – a group the EU considers terrorist – killed 1,194 people, mostly civilians, in southern Israel and kidnapped 251 people, according to a count carried out by the AFP agency on official grounds, according to Israeli data. The Israeli military estimates that 116 people are held captive in Gaza, 41 of whom have reportedly died.

In response, Israel launched an offensive that killed at least 37,551 people, mostly civilians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

dzc (AFP, EFE)