There was pandemonium in Jerusalem as tens of thousands of Israelis took to the streets to protest the country’s handling of its ongoing war and stalled hostage negotiations with Hamas. It was one of the largest protests in the nation’s history and surely, the biggest since the country was plunged into war in October, 2023. Protesters demand the government reach a cease-fire deal to free dozens of hostages held in Gaza by Hamas militants and to hold early elections.
The Israeli public has broadly supported government efforts in Gaza, in the wake of the October 7th, 2023, attack where Hamas militants killed over 1,200 people and took some 250 others hostage. Six months after the start of this latest round of conflict, there appear to be big divisions over the leadership of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, though the country remains largely in favor of the war.
Mr. Netanyahu has vowed to destroy Hamas and bring all the hostages’ home, yet those goals have been elusive. While Hamas has suffered heavy losses, it remains intact.
Roughly half the hostages in Gaza were released during a weeklong cease-fire in November last year but further attempts by local and international mediators to bring home the remaining hostages have failed. Talks resumed recently but there are no signs that a breakthrough was imminent.
There have also been several breaks with many of Israel’s international allies, with the US senate majority leader, who is also the highest-ranking Jewish official in the United States calling for fresh elections in Israel to replace Netanyahu.
