Egypt Daily News – A coalition of Israeli hostage families, protesters against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s actions toward the judiciary, and members of the security establishment has mobilized again following the resumption of the war on Gaza this week.
Netanyahu’s decision to resume the war and bomb the Palestinian territory despite the presence of 59 hostages—of whom about 24 are believed to still be alive—has fueled the anger of protesters who accuse the government of continuing the war for political reasons.
Tens of thousands of Israelis protested on Tuesday evening, with more demonstrations erupting on Wednesday after Netanyahu announced earlier this week that he had lost confidence in Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar and decided to dismiss him.
“This is no longer a war for something important; it is about the survival of this government and Benjamin Netanyahu,” said Korin Ofer, a protester in Jerusalem.
The protest movement is diverse, including members of the “Protective Shield Forum,” which represents former defense and security officials, the Movement for Quality Government in Israel—an anti-corruption group that played a key role in the 2023 battle against Netanyahu’s judicial overhaul—and families of hostages held in Gaza.
The current protests resemble the mass demonstrations of 2023, before Hamas’s October 7 attacks when Netanyahu attempted to dismiss then-Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for opposing the judicial reforms he was pushing.
This reflects a belief among Netanyahu’s critics—who have seen him serve as prime minister six times—that he poses a threat to Israeli democracy.
Former Prime Minister Yair Lapid, leader of the centrist opposition party Yesh Atid, wrote on X: “This government does not stop at red lines… Enough! I call on all of you—this is our moment, this is our future. Take to the streets.”
Despite ongoing protests and calls for new elections, Netanyahu has managed to hold his right-wing coalition together.
Polls indicate that if elections were held now, Netanyahu would lose due to public anger over the failures that allowed Hamas to attack southern Israeli communities on October 7, 2023—the worst security disaster in Israel’s history.
Far-right minister Itamar Ben Gvir announced on Tuesday that he was re-joining the government after withdrawing over the ceasefire agreement reached in January. His return highlights the political backing Netanyahu’s government enjoys from the nationalist-religious camp.
