Mass protests rock Israel demanding Netanyahu’s resignation
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Tel Aviv: Thousands of Israelis staged protests across the country on Saturday, intensifying calls for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's resignation and accusing his government of prolonging the war without a clear national strategy while failing to address the deepening political and security crisis.
Demonstrations were reported in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Karkur, Afula, Rosh Pina, Nahariya and Beersheba, underscoring the breadth of public dissatisfaction with Netanyahu's leadership. Protesters voiced anger over the government's handling of the aftermath of the October 7 attack, the continuing war and what they described as the absence of clearly defined objectives.
In Tel Aviv, around a thousand people gathered at Habima Square for one of the largest rallies of the day. In Jerusalem, police temporarily seized microphones and other sound equipment used by demonstrators near the prime minister's official residence, citing noise-related concerns.
Among the most prominent voices at the Tel Aviv rally was Karmit Palti Katzir, whose father was killed and whose mother and brother were taken captive to Gaza during the October 7 attack. Highlighting the devastating impact of the conflict, she pointed to the deaths of more than a thousand Israelis and the lasting physical and psychological trauma suffered by tens of thousands since the attack. She accused the government of continuing the war in pursuit of political survival rather than a clearly articulated national purpose.
Criticism of the government's political approach also emerged at a march in Haifa, where former Israeli National Security Council deputy head Eitan Etzion warned against appeals for "national unity" ahead of elections. He argued that such rhetoric could be used to divert attention from public scrutiny and weaken political debate.
The protests unfolded as Israel faced mounting internal pressure amid ongoing diplomatic developments, including the start of direct U.S.-Iran talks in Switzerland following the signing of the Islamabad memorandum by U.S. President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.