The increased anger towards Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over his reluctance to reach a deal to bring home Hamas captives was evident during the protests by thousands of people in central Tel Aviv on Saturday, who were demanding greater efforts to secure the release of Israeli captives held in Gaza.
Demonstrators assembled outside army headquarters and other government buildings, voicing their dissatisfaction with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's handling of the situation and urging him to negotiate with Hamas for the return of approximately 100 captives still in Gaza, Al Jazeera reported.
The latest wave of mass protests comes following the recovery of six captives' bodies from Gaza, which has intensified public frustration. Last weekend’s rally saw an estimated 750,000 participants.
Many of the protesters, including families of the captives, expressed anger over what they perceived as the government's failure to achieve a deal. Critics accuse Netanyahu of sabotaging potential agreements to prolong his political tenure amid the ongoing conflict.
Reports highlighted growing discontent among the Israeli public towards Netanyahu, who is perceived as unwilling or unable to secure a deal for the captives' release. Netanyahu has maintained that he will continue the military campaign until the war’s objectives are met, but nearly a year into the conflict, none of these objectives have been achieved.
The release of a video by the Israeli military showing the conditions of a Gaza tunnel where the captives’ bodies were found has further fuelled public outrage. The footage depicts a grim and cramped environment, heightening concerns over the dire situation faced by those still held in captivity.
The conflict has claimed over 1,100 lives in southern Israel and more than 41,000 Palestinian lives, with nearly the entire population of Gaza displaced.