Thousands of people in Israel gathered in protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday, coinciding with the six-month mark of Israel's conflict with Hamas in Gaza. Many demonstrators congregated at a Tel Aviv intersection known as 'Democracy Square;, a name adopted during last year's mass protests against contentious judicial reforms.
Protests occurred in various cities, including one in Kfar Saba where Israel's opposition leader Yair Lapid participated before heading to Washington for talks. He expressed dissatisfaction, stating that the government hadn't learned or changed, emphasizing the need to replace them for the country to progress. Israeli media reported clashes between protesters and police in Tel Aviv.
In Tel Aviv's large anti-government rally, some protesters clashed with police, resulting in at least five arrests. Additionally, The media reported a car-ramming incident in the city that left five demonstrators injured, prompting widespread condemnation and raising concerns about escalating societal tensions.
Families of Gaza hostages and their supporters joined the protesters in Tel Aviv. Prior to the rally, the army had announced the recovery of the body of a hostage who was abducted by Palestinian militants during an attack on October 7. Tragically, the individual was later found murdered while in captivity in the Gaza Strip.
The recovery of Elad Katzir's body marks the 12th instance where the army has brought home hostages from Gaza during the conflict. According to Israeli reports, the Hamas attack led to the deaths of 1,170 individuals in southern Israel, with the majority being civilians.
The retaliatory actions of Israel against Hamas have resulted in the deaths of approximately 33,137 individuals in Gaza, primarily women and children, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-controlled area. Around 250 Israelis and foreigners were seized by militants on October 7. Presently, the army indicates that 129 individuals remain held in Gaza, with 34 of them presumed deceased. Demonstrators are preparing to gather once again on Sunday, with a planned rally scheduled in Jerusalem.