"Netanyahu Resign"... 100,000 Protesters Gather in Jerusalem

According to major foreign media outlets such as the Associated Press on the 31st of last month (local time), the largest anti-government protests since the outbreak of the war with Hamas are taking place in Israel.

Reports state that nearly 100,000 citizens gathered in front of the Knesset (parliament) building in Jerusalem, the capital of Israel, demanding the resignation of the Netanyahu administration. They also raised their voices calling for immediate early elections and an agreement on hostage negotiations.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The protesters expressed anger over the Israeli government's failure to eradicate Hamas and its inability to bring back over 100 hostages, dragging the war on for nearly six months. They also criticized the exemption of ultra-Orthodox Jewish youths from military service and the fact that Yair Netanyahu, Prime Minister Netanyahu's son, has been hiding in Miami, USA, for six months since the outbreak of the war.

Nurit Robinson, a participant in the protest, told major foreign media, "It is a completely failed government," adding, "They are driving us into a pit." Einav Moshe, whose relative was taken hostage, lamented, "Six months have passed, but the government seems unaware that Netanyahu is an obstacle," and said, "It seems as if Netanyahu does not genuinely want to rescue the hostages, and the government has also failed in the hostage rescue mission."

Local media such as Israel's N12 News reported that the size of the protest in front of the Knesset was the largest since the outbreak of the war on October 7 last year, reminiscent of the protests against the Netanyahu government's legislation to weaken the judiciary last year. Even after major protests were suppressed, some participants attempted to block nearby highways by setting fires on the roads but were stopped by the police. Other participants clashed with police while trying to block entrances to Jerusalem. Police stated that at least one protester was arrested.

On the same day, Prime Minister Netanyahu dismissed the protesters' demands for resignation during a press conference. He argued that holding elections during the war would paralyze the administration and halt hostage negotiations for six to eight months. In response, opposition leader and former Prime Minister Yair Lapid countered, "The country is already paralyzed," stating, "The war, hostage negotiations, and even the northern region under attack by Hezbollah are all paralyzed and have failed."

Meanwhile, the protesters gathered in front of the Jerusalem parliament set up tents nearby and plan to continue their protests for the next four days.