Mass protests in Israel demand Netanyahu's resignation amid war crisis
On Saturday evening, on the streets all over Israel, thousands of citizens gathered for massive protests. Their main demand was the resignation of the current government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who, according to the protesters, "is leading the country to complete collapse".
Among the crowds gathered on the streets of Tel Aviv were also families of hostages. They held photographs of their loved ones, who Hamas is holding.
"Netanyahu is leading Israel to complete collapse"
Israeli media quote a statement from the families of hostages, which says: "As long as Netanyahu remains in power, so long will the hostages remain in captivity (...). Netanyahu is leading the country to complete collapse".
Naama Weinberg, whose cousin was kidnapped in a Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October, during her speech at a demonstration in Tel Aviv, referred to a video recording released by Hamas. The recording indicates that another Israeli hostage has died.
Weinberg, quoted by Reuters, appealed: - Soon, even those who have managed to survive so long will no longer be among the living. They must be saved now.
Clashes with the police occurred
Some protesters decided to take more radical actions and blocked the main highway in the city. There were clashes with the police, which used water cannons against them.
As reported by the Times of Israel, many protesters were arrested.
According to Israeli data, out of 252 people kidnapped on 7 October, 128 still remain in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli investigative commission has declared at least 36 hostages to be killed.
During the war between Israel and Hamas, approximately 35,000 Palestinians have likely died so far. At least 90 percent of the residents of the Gaza Strip had to leave their homes.
Netanyahu is defiant
The Israeli military continues its "limited" and "precise" operation against Hamas in Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip, on the border with Egypt - announced its spokesman, Daniel Hagari, from Saturday to Sunday night.
The spokesman for the Israeli army stressed that the "precise" operation in Rafah aims to lead to a "lasting defeat" of Hamas and the release of hostages. He assured that Israel is waging war against Hamas, and "not against the residents of the Gaza Strip".
Israel ignores all calls for a ceasefire
Since the beginning of the war between Israel and the Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas, started in October 2023, in Rafah have taken refuge approximately 1.4 million out of the 2.3 million Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip.
The international community warns that the operation in this city will lead to further victims among civilians and a worsening of the already catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Palestinian enclave.
