Protesters gathered in various cities across Israel on Saturday, renewing their calls for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to step down and for early elections to be held. The demonstrators also demanded the release of all hostages held in Gaza and urged the Israeli government to accept a proposal put forth by US President Joe Biden.
Families of the hostages held in Gaza joined the anti-government protests in cities such as Tel Aviv, Caesarea, Haifa, Herzeliya, and Kfar Saba. Many participants proudly displayed Israeli flags and held up signs bearing images of the hostages, appealing to the government to secure their immediate release.
In Tel Aviv, Democracy Square was filled with citizens advocating for Netanyahu to agree to the hostage release deal. Chants of 'Every hostage must return!' echoed through the crowd, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.
At Hostage Square in Tel Aviv, protesters illuminated the area with their phone flashlights while reciting the names of the 125 hostages still in Hamas captivity. A woman urged action, declaring, 'Start streaming this deal, so that it will start moving ... Start working, start acting.'
In Caesarea, demonstrators expressed their lack of confidence in Netanyahu's leadership, calling for his removal from office and his acceptance of the proposed hostage release agreement outlined by President Biden. The crowd voiced a unified message, stating, 'There is no victory until every last hostage is returned.'
Protesters in Caesarea further demanded Netanyahu's immediate resignation, citing a perceived conflict of interest. They emphasized the need for swift action, asserting, 'We are demanding Netanyahu's removal from power now. He has a conflict of interest. And you don't need to be an attorney general to understand that.'
