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Jerusalem, Israel
They are demanding a quick agreement with Hamas to release the remaining hostages - and they are loudly calling for early elections. Thousands of Israelis gathered in front of the parliament in Jerusalem on Sunday to demonstrate against Prime Minister Netanyahu. Israeli media speak of the largest demonstration since the war began on October 7th.
Israeli police have raised their alert level in anticipation of the massive protests.
The demonstrators briefly blocked a highway, built bonfires and lit flares. The police fired water cannons to break up the demonstrators' road blockades.
The planned four-day large-scale demonstrations began on Saturday evening in Tel Aviv.
Netanyahu had firmly rejected criticism of his conduct of negotiations and calls for a new election. A new election would paralyze the country at the height of the war and massively hinder negotiations to release more hostages, said Netanyahu.
Prime Minister Netanyahu recently had to undergo surgery for a hernia. He had announced that he wanted to return quickly after the operation. According to media reports, the demonstrators plan to set up tents in front of the Knesset and hold sit-ins every day until the end of the week.