Thousands of protesters gathered in Tel Aviv on Saturday, calling for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to step down and for fresh elections to be held. The demonstration marked a resurgence of anti-government sentiment that had waned after the 7 October attacks by Hamas.
Protesters expressed anger over the government's handling of the war in Gaza and the fate of hostages taken by Hamas. Many held signs reading 'Elections Now' and chanted slogans demanding Netanyahu's resignation.
Mass protests were a regular feature throughout 2023, driven largely by opposition to controversial judicial reforms. However, the scale of demonstrations diminished following the Hamas attacks on 7 October, which killed over 1,200 people in Israel and sparked the ongoing conflict.
Netanyahu's popularity has declined as the war continues, with critics accusing him of failing to secure the release of hostages and mismanaging the military campaign. The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza reports that more than 28,800 people have been killed in the enclave since the start of the war.
