Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has faced strong protests across the country. Protests are taking place against the new Palestinian offensive in Gaza. Thousands of people have taken to the streets of Israel to demand an end to the war in Gaza. Protests against Netanyahu’s government have been going on in Israel for three consecutive days.
Thousands of people demonstrated in the capital Tel Aviv on Saturday against the government’s decision to fire Ronen Bar, the head of Israel’s Shin Bet intelligence agency, and to resume attacks on Gaza. Thousands of protesters waved Israeli blue and white flags and marched to Tel Aviv’s Habima Square. They demanded a new deal to free the remaining Israelis held by Hamas in Gaza.
Protester Moshe Haharoni (63) told Reuters, “Benjamin Netanyahu is Israel’s biggest enemy.” “For 20 years, he has not respected our country, he has not respected our citizens.”
“We are seeing a terrible war in Gaza again after a year and a half,” protester Erez Berman (44) told Reuters. “Hamas is still in power in Gaza. There are still thousands of fighters from that organization. So the Netanyahu government in Israel has completely failed to achieve its goals in this war.”
The protests have blocked major roads in Israel. They are expressing their anger at the government led by Benjamin Netanyahu. Police in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv have arrested at least 12 people. The protesters accuse the government of waging a war for political reasons. Netanyahu is not thinking about the fate of the 59 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. Of the hostages, 24 are reported to be alive.