Ariane Ménage (correspondent in Israel) / Photo credits: JACK GUEZ / AFP
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9:23 a.m., April 7, 2024
Tens of thousands of people demonstrated against Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday evening in Israel, as the country entered its seventh month of war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip on Sunday. Prime Minister with record longevity, he is considered responsible for the security failures of October 7.
It has now been six months since Hamas carried out its bloody attacks in Israel and six months since 129 people were held in the terrorist movement’s tunnels in Gaza, 34 of whom died according to the Israeli army. Saturday evening, hundreds of thousands of people demonstrated, placards in hand, in around fifty cities such as Tel Aviv where nearly 100,000 demonstrators gathered in Democracy Square to demand the release of the hostages and a ceasefire. and the resignation of Benyamin Netanyahu.
“I no longer expect anything from this government”
“We will not give up until Bibi is behind us.” This is one of the slogans heard during these demonstrations. Here, the sources of anger against Benyamin Netanyahu are numerous. Prime Minister with record longevity, he is considered responsible for the security failures of October 7. He is also accused of prolonging the war to stay in power. Itsik is convinced of this. Met during the demonstration, he is holding a photo of a relative, Gadi Moses, 80 years old and hostage in Gaza. “I no longer expect anything from this government. It only leads us towards the worst. They had their chance. Now, there is nothing else to do. We must make them go,” explains- he spoke to the microphone of Europe 1.
After six months of war and the new release agreement in sight, the families of the hostages are joining forces with the anti-Netanyahu protest. And, according to General Jean-Paul Paloméros, an expert on geopolitical issues, the Israeli Prime Minister is increasingly isolated and put under pressure. “There is enormous pressure on Benjamin Netanyahu, from everywhere. From his normal and political opponents. There was unity in the face of the Hamas attack, but now we see that some are starting to demand elections. That’s six months, there is both weariness, the impression among the Israeli people that this is never going to end. We can clearly see these threats which manifest themselves on a daily basis,” he explains. Next meeting this Sunday evening for a massive demonstration in front of the Parliament in Jerusalem.