5-11-2023 (JERUSALEM) In a resounding show of anger and frustration, protesters gathered outside the residence of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Saturday, November 4. They voiced their discontent over the series of security failures that culminated in a deadly attack by Hamas gunmen on communities surrounding the Gaza Strip last month.
Waving blue and white Israeli flags and vociferously chanting “Jail now!” the crowd, numbering in the hundreds, pushed past police barriers set up around Netanyahu’s Jerusalem residence.
This demonstration, coinciding with a recent poll that revealed over three-quarters of Israelis believe Netanyahu should step down from his position, underscored the escalating public outrage aimed at both political and security leadership in the country.
Netanyahu, who has served a record six terms as Prime Minister, has yet to assume personal responsibility for the lapses that allowed the surprise assault on October 7. During this attack, hundreds of Hamas gunmen infiltrated southern Israel, resulting in the tragic loss of more than 1,400 lives and the capture of at least 240 hostages. In the aftermath, as the initial shock waned, public anger intensified. Families of the hostages held in Gaza have been particularly critical of the government’s response, urging authorities to take decisive actions to secure their relatives’ release.
In Tel Aviv, thousands of people took to the streets, brandishing flags and displaying photographs of the captives in Gaza. Their posters bore slogans such as “Release the hostages now at all costs.”
In the wake of the attack, Israel responded with a vigorous air and ground offensive in Gaza, causing a significant loss of life, with health authorities in the Hamas-controlled area reporting casualties exceeding 9,000 and extensive destruction in various parts of the enclave.
Even before the conflict, Benjamin Netanyahu was a polarizing figure, grappling with corruption allegations which he vehemently denies and spearheading initiatives to limit the powers of the judiciary, a move that led to widespread protests involving hundreds of thousands of demonstrators.
A recent poll conducted by Israel’s Channel 13 Television on Saturday showed that 76 percent of Israelis believed Netanyahu should resign from his position. A notable 64 percent of respondents felt that the country should immediately call for an election following the recent conflict. In response to the question of who was most culpable for the attack, 44 percent of Israelis attributed the blame to Netanyahu, while 33 percent held the military chief of staff and senior IDF officials responsible, and 5 percent pointed fingers at the Defense Minister, according to the poll results.
Jerusalem… Israeli citizens protest in front of Benjamin Netanyahu’ house.
It’s illegal to protest so citizens are arrested and sentenced to jail ???????????????? pic.twitter.com/EQcy29sDSK
— Pelham (@Resist_05) November 5, 2023
