Burak Dag
22 December 2024•Update: 23 December 2024
JERUSALEM
Israelis staged protests Saturday across the country, demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government.
They accused it of obstructing a cease-fire and prisoner swap agreement with the Gaza Strip.
Hundreds of thousands criticized Netanyahu, reiterating their demand for the resignation of his government for "the most right-wing government in Israel's history" and early elections.
Protests were held in Tel Aviv, Haifa, Beersheba, West Jerusalem and other parts of the country.
The main protest centered around the Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv, with protesters carrying banners, posters and placards against Netanyahu and members of his government.
Speaking to demonstrators on Kaplan Street near the Defense Ministry, opposition leader and former Prime Minister Yair Lapid promised to "overthrow" the government in elections.
Lapid emphasized that they would not negotiate with Netanyahu's government and would not back down.
"We will win. Bibi (Netanyahu) is not actually growing stronger. The people are not on their side. There are no elections because they are terrified of elections because they know the truth," he said.
Sabotaging negotiations
Before the protest in Tel Aviv, Einav Zangauker, the mother of Israeli prisoner Matan Zangauker, accused Netanyahu of sabotaging negotiations for a cease-fire and prisoner swap in Gaza.
Zangauker criticized Netanyahu for continuing military operations in Gaza for political gain and rejecting a prisoner swap agreement.
"Ending the war is neither an obstacle nor a cost. Ending the war to bring all the prisoners back is the goal," she said.
Netanyahu is accused by Israelis and international public opinion of refusing to negotiate a prisoner swap with the Palestinian resistance group, Hamas, for political reasons.
It is estimated that there are currently 101 Israeli prisoners in Gaza.
Continued airstrikes in Gaza
While cease-fire and prisoner swap negotiations continue under the mediation of Egypt and Qatar, the Israeli military has continued intense airstrikes on Gaza.
In the last 24 hours, Israeli strikes have resulted in the deaths of 24 Palestinians.
The attacks have led to the deaths of 45,227 Palestinians, including 17,492 children and 11,979 women since Oct. 7, 2023. Additionally, 107,573 individuals have been injured.
Reports indicate that thousands of bodies remain trapped under the rubble of demolished buildings, while civilian infrastructure, including hospitals and educational institutions, continues to be targeted and destroyed.
