Over the weekend, thousands of people gathered in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem in the largest protests Israel has seen since the conflict with Hamas began. The demonstrators expressed their frustration with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government for failing to secure the release of all hostages taken captive during a terror attack last year.
While 105 hostages were released during a temporary truce, another 130 remain either dead or in captivity. Protesters called for Netanyahu's resignation and demanded new elections, holding banners with messages like 'You've failed' and 'Impeachment now'.
Former hostages, like Aviva Siegel, urged the government to prioritize hostage retrieval over military objectives. Siegel, who was released by Hamas, pleaded for more effort to free her husband and others still held in Gaza.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid criticized the government for ignoring the families of hostages, highlighting the deep societal divisions that have resurfaced amid the ongoing crisis.
The protests have reignited tensions in Israel, with concerns raised over the government's response to the hostage situation and its handling of the conflict with Hamas. International pressure has also mounted, with criticism over the high casualty figures and humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
As the protests continue and calls for accountability grow louder, Netanyahu faces challenges from both the left and right, with pressure to bring the hostages home and address contentious issues like military service exemptions for the ultra-Orthodox community.
The situation remains tense as Israel grapples with internal dissent, international scrutiny, and the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
