Thousands of Israelis stage largest rally against Netanyahu since Gaza war began

Tens of thousands of Israelis took to the streets of Jerusalem on Sunday (31 March) in the largest protest against the Benjamin Netanyahu‘s government since the country went to war with Hamas in October.

Protesters urged the government to reach a cease-fire deal to free dozens of hostages held in Gaza by Hamas militants and to hold early elections.

The crowd stretched for blocks around the Knesset, or parliament building in the city’s downtown district, and organisers vowed to continue the demonstration for several days.

They urged the government to hold new elections nearly two years ahead of schedule.

Thousands also demonstrated Sunday in Tel Aviv, where there was a large protest the night before.

The country’s Prime Minister. Mr Netanyahu said in a nationally televised speech before undergoing hernia surgery later Sunday that he understood families’ pain.

He added calling new elections – in what he described as a moment before victory – would paralyse Israel for six to eight months and stall the hostage talks.

Six months of conflict since Hamas’ 7 October deadly raid on Israel has renewed divisions over the leadership of Mr Netanyahu, though the country remains largely in favor of the war.

Mr Netanyahu has vowed that Israel’s military will not leave Gaza until it has destroyed Hamas and brought all hostages home.

Roughly half the hostages in Gaza were released during a weeklong cease-fire in November.

But attempts by international mediators to bring home the remaining hostages have failed. Talks resumed on Sunday with no signs that a breakthrough was imminent.

Hostages’ families believe time is running out, and they are getting more vocal about their displeasure with Netanyahu.

“We believe that no hostages will come back with this government because they’re busy putting sticks in the wheels of negotiations for the hostages,” said Boaz Atzili, whose cousin, Aviv Atlizi and his wife, Liat, were kidnapped on Oct. 7. Liat was released but Aviv was killed, and his body is in Gaza. “Netanyahu is only working in his private interests.”

Protesters blame Netanyahu for the failures of 7 October and say the deep political divisions over his attempted judicial overhaul last year weakened Israel ahead of the attack. Some accuse him of damaging relations with the United States, Israel’s most important ally.

Also on Sunday, an Israeli airstrike hit a tent camp in the courtyard of a crowded hospital in central Gaza, killing two Palestinians and wounding another 15, including journalists working nearby.

Additional reporting by Associated Press.