The demonstrators demanded an acceleration of the return of Israeli prisoners held by the Palestinian resistance in Gaza (Reuters)
Hundreds of Israelis demonstrated in central Tel Aviv and in the cities of Haifa and Rehovot, demanding the overthrow of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government and the holding of parliamentary elections, as the war on the Gaza Strip entered its 120th day.
During these protests, the demonstrators raised slogans holding Netanyahu responsible for the events of October 7, and the events that followed, leading to the mismanagement of the prisoner exchange deal file, in addition to accusing him of corruption.
The protesters demanded that the government accelerate the return of 136 Israeli prisoners held by the Palestinian resistance in Gaza.
Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper said that hundreds of Israelis participated in the demonstration against the government at the Horev Junction in Haifa, demanding early elections. Participants carried banners reading: “Elections are now and save the prisoners.”
In the city of Rehovot, dozens demonstrated and chanted against Netanyahu.
Israelis demonstrate almost daily to demand early elections and the release of prisoners in Gaza, but the main demonstrations are organized on Saturday.
Israeli officials estimate that there are about 136 Israelis still detained in the Gaza Strip, since the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) launched Operation Al-Aqsa Flood on October 7 on Israeli military points and settlements surrounding the Strip.
In the attack, the Palestinian resistance captured at least 239 people in towns and cities surrounding Gaza, and exchanged dozens of them with Israel during a temporary humanitarian truce that lasted 7 days and ended in early December.
On the other hand, Palestinian prisoners’ institutions reported that, under the truce, Israel released 240 Palestinian prisoners from its prisons, including 71 female prisoners and 169 children.
Since last October 7, the Israeli army has been waging a devastating war on Gaza that, as of Saturday, left 27,238 martyrs and 66,452 injured, most of them children and women, according to the Palestinian authorities, and caused massive destruction and an unprecedented humanitarian disaster, according to the United Nations.
Source: Al Jazeera + Anatolia