Protesters rally outside of Knesset to demand new elections, Largest Anti-government Protest Since the War in Gaza Began

By JNS/AP

Anti-government protesters gathered at the Knesset, Israel’s parliament in Jerusalem on Sunday night, demanding that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu resign and agree to early elections amid the war in Gaza.

Tens of thousands of Israelis gathered outside the parliament building in Jerusalem on Sunday in the largest anti-government demonstration since the country went to war in October. They urged the government to reach a deal to free dozens of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza and to hold early elections, AP reported.

“After six months, it seems like the government understands that Bibi Netanyahu is an obstacle,” said demonstrator Einav Moses, whose father-in-law, Gadi Moses, is held hostage. “Like he doesn’t really want to bring them back, that they have failed in this mission.”

The crowd stretched for blocks around the Knesset, or parliament building, and organizers vowed to continue the demonstration for several days. They urged the government to cancel an upcoming parliamentary recess and to hold new elections nearly two years ahead of schedule.

Netanyahu, in a nationally televised speech before undergoing hernia surgery later Sunday, said he understood the pain of the hostages’ families. “I will do everything to bring the hostages home,” he said.

The Sunday demonstration, which kicked off large-scale, multi-day protests in Israel’s capital, also urged Netanyahu to accept a hostages-for-ceasefire agreement with the Hamas terrorist organization.

🇮🇱🇵🇸🚨‼️ Mass protests are taking place in Israel demanding the resignation of Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.

Protesters, including relatives of hostages held in the Gaza Strip, are demanding a deal with Hamas for their release, as well as Netanyahu’s resignation. They accuse… pic.twitter.com/9DGGuGdoRq

— Lord Bebo (@MyLordBebo) March 31, 2024

The gathering was organized by a coalition of left-wing groups, including Brothers in Arms and the Kaplan Force, that previously coordinated protests against the government’s now-shelved judicial reform agenda.

“The government of the destruction, which brought about the year of the disaster and the failure of Oct. 7, continues its attempts to disband the people’s army, damage the security of the state and tear the people of Israel apart,” wrote the Kaplan Force in the announcement.

A huge protest ongoing now in Jerusalem demanding Netanyahu’s resignation and a fresh election in Israel. pic.twitter.com/7nC3eNrkI6

— Ashok Swain (@ProfAshokSwain) March 31, 2024

“Just as we mobilized in 2023 to stop the dictatorial coup, just as we mobilized in the weeks after Oct. 7, this is the time for the people to mobilize, take to the streets and save the State of Israel,” it read.

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid of the Yesh Atid Party spoke at the rally, emphasizing that he seeks to “establish another government in a few weeks. As long as we are a democracy, there is a tool that can change reality. It is called elections. Election now!” added Lapid.

So sad.

The tiny minority elite in Israel are so desperate to topple Netanyahu that they are weaponizing a small public to protest in the middle of the war to topple the government.

They say they care about the hostages in Gaza, but that is a sad, lame, cynical hijacking of a… pic.twitter.com/EJJu8AsEM3

— Avi Abelow (@aviabelow) March 31, 2024

Ahead of the official protest near the Knesset, activists carrying flags of Brothers in Arms descended upon ultra-Orthodox neighborhoods to demand a universal military draft, resulting in clashes with residents.

In an address to the nation earlier on Sunday, Netanyahu rejected the suggestion of holding elections during the war, saying it would paralyze hostage negotiations and bring a premature end to the war in Gaza.

“The first who welcome this is Hamas, and that says everything,” added the premier.

For his part, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir condemned Brothers in Arms as a “provocation organization” that has “engaged time and time again in stirring up fratricidal war and the division of Israeli society.”

“Those who led a campaign of refusal before 7/10, and now continue the tradition of provocation and hatred, are the last to pretend to care about Israel’s security,” Ben-Gvir declares.