Thousands Rally in Israel to Demand Netanyahu's Resignation
- Military
Israel – Tens of thousands of people across Israel joined the families of hostages this weekend to protest against the government and call for the removal of Benjamin Netanyahu, as the Israeli prime minister grappled with one of the most serious threats yet to his coalition.
The protesters in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa, Be’er Sheva, Caesarea and other cities on Saturday and at a further demonstration outside the Knesset in Jerusalem on Sunday, demanded the release of those still held captive in Gaza after close to six months, and labelled Netanyahu an obstacle to the deal, vowing to persist until he leaves power.
“It’s been 176 days that I haven’t turned a blind eye to the thoughts and fear of what Liri and the other abductees are going through,” said Shira Albag, the mother of one hostage, Liri Albag, as reported from the Guardian site.
Tentara Israel, tank, howitzer dan kendaraan lapis baja terlihat ketika mobilitas militer Israel terus berlanjut di perbatasan Gaza, di Nahal Oz (Doc: Anadolu Ajansi)
- VIVA.co.id/Natania Longdong
“The people of Israel won’t forget or forgive anyone who prevents a deal that would bring them (the hostages) back to us. After 176 days, 4,224 hours, the excuses have run out,"
Netanyahu is entering the most precarious week for his coalition since the war began as a deadline imposed by the Israeli supreme court to end the exemption for ultra-Orthodox men from military conscription is reached on Monday.
The issue divides the coalition between rightwing religious and secular parties, who want to see conscription shared more equally among Jewish Israelis.
At a press conference on Sunday evening, Netanyahu said Israel would press ahead with an offensive against Rafah, where half of Gaza’s population is estimated to be sheltering, and he said a combination of military pressure and flexibility in talks would bring about the release of hostages.
The nationwide protests also coincided with reports from the Egyptian TV station Al-Qahera, known for its ties to the country’s intelligence services, indicating that negotiations for a truce between Israel and Hamas were scheduled to resume in Cairo.
VIVA Militer: Serangan roket Hamas Palestina ke Israel
- reuters.com
A Hamas official said that it had not made a decision on whether to send a delegation.
An Israeli airstrike on Sunday hit a tent camp in the courtyard of a crowded hospital in central Gaza, killing two Palestinians and injuring another 15, including journalists working nearby.
Gaza’s health ministry said on Sunday that at least 32,782 Palestinians had been killed since the start of the war, including 77 whose bodies had been brought to hospitals over the last 24 hours.In further signs of spreading tensions within Israel, emergency services said a member of the country’s Arab minority stabbed three soldiers at a bus stop in the southern city of Beersheba on Sunday before one of them shot him dead.
Hours later, a knife-wielding Palestinian was shot dead after wounding three people in a shopping mall in nearby Gan Yavne, Israeli media said.
The war was triggered in October when Hamas killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, in an attack in southern Israel.
The militant Islamist organisation also abducted about 250 people. Israel believes about 130 of these remain in Gaza, including 34 who are presumed dead.
