Thousands of people gathered in Tel Aviv on Saturday to protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, just three days before a general election widely seen as a decisive test of his leadership.
The demonstration brought together families of victims and hostages from the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, opposition politicians, and members of the public demanding accountability for the security failures that preceded the attack and the war that followed.
Organised by the October Council, a group formed by families affected by the October 7 attacks, the rally called for an independent state commission of inquiry to investigate how the attack happened and why Israeli authorities failed to prevent it.
According to Israeli media reports, leaders of the four main opposition parties attended the demonstration. Among them was Gadi Eisenkot, a former Israeli military chief who has emerged as a prominent challenger to Netanyahu. Eisenkot received a warm response from demonstrators as the election campaign entered its final days.
In a statement published on X before the rally, the October Council described the gathering as the culmination of three years of efforts to uncover the truth, establish accountability, and secure an independent investigation into the events surrounding October 7.
An AFP reporter at the scene reported that thousands of demonstrators marched from Rabin Square towards Hostages Square, a location that has become a central gathering point for Israelis demanding government accountability and action over hostages held in Gaza.
For many protesters, the demonstration represented more than a political disagreement. It reflected years of frustration over the government’s handling of national security, the consequences of the war, and the lack of an independent investigation into one of the most consequential security failures in Israel’s history.
Hadas Feuershtein, 68, told AFP before the rally that she believed the country’s leadership had performed poorly since Netanyahu’s government took office in late 2022. She also expressed concern about Israel’s current situation.
The demonstration took place against a tense political backdrop. Polls published before election-related restrictions on political polling took effect on Friday night indicated that neither the Netanyahu-led bloc nor the opposition grouping was on course to secure a majority in the 120-seat Knesset.
A poll published by Israeli public broadcaster KAN projected 52 seats for Eisenkot’s bloc and 50 for Netanyahu’s bloc, with the remaining seats going to parties outside the two groupings, including Arab parties. The figures suggested that the election could produce another complicated political landscape, with coalition negotiations potentially playing a decisive role in determining the next government.
Calls for an independent investigation intensify
The demand for an independent commission of inquiry has remained a central issue for families of victims, civil society organisations, and opposition politicians since the October 7 attacks.
Critics argue that an investigation must establish how the country’s security and intelligence systems failed, identify those responsible for the breakdowns, and determine what changes are necessary to prevent similar failures in the future.
Netanyahu’s government has declined to establish the independent commission demanded by protesters. Instead, it has proposed a political commission in which members would be appointed equally by the governing coalition and opposition lawmakers.
Opposition leaders have rejected that approach, arguing that politicians should not control an investigation into failures for which the political leadership itself may face scrutiny. They have also said they would boycott a commission appointed through the political system.
The dispute has become a wider test of public trust in government institutions, particularly among families who believe that accountability is essential to understanding the events of October 7 and rebuilding confidence in the country’s leadership.
Ahead of Saturday’s rally, the October Council warned law enforcement authorities about possible provocations by pro-government activists. Israeli police later announced that a suspect had been arrested in Tel Aviv over an alleged assault on the security team of a public figure. Israeli media identified the individual involved as former prime minister and opposition leader Naftali Bennett.
As the campaign approaches its conclusion, Eisenkot and Bennett are expected to hold separate final meetings with voters in Tel Aviv on Sunday evening.
Netanyahu’s economic remarks draw criticism
The election campaign has also been shaped by concerns about Israel’s international standing and economic future following years of conflict involving Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran, alongside increased violence in the occupied West Bank.
At Saturday’s demonstration, 18-year-old first-time voter Naama Bitterman said she hoped an opposition victory would improve how Israel is viewed internationally. She argued that a change in government could create an opportunity to rebuild the country’s reputation after years of war and mounting diplomatic tensions.
International pressure has increased over Israeli settlement policies and violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. Britain and several other countries have imposed measures targeting goods from Israeli settlements, responding to settler violence and settlement expansion approved by Netanyahu’s right-wing government.
Against this background, Netanyahu’s comments about the need for Israel to develop an alternative digital economy attracted criticism from opposition figures. The prime minister also acknowledged that Israel could not assume that large weapons packages from its key ally, the United States, would continue indefinitely.
His remarks came as questions grew about how Israel would manage its economic and security needs if international relations deteriorated further.
Eisenkot responded sarcastically to the suggestion of an alternative digital currency, referring to it as “bbCoin,” a play on Netanyahu’s widely used nickname, Bibi.
In a post on X, Eisenkot argued that Netanyahu’s approach risked isolating Israel from the global economy, discouraging investment in its technology sector, and weakening its security. He urged voters not to allow the proposal to undermine the country’s economic future.
Yair Lapid, a former prime minister and current opposition leader, also criticised Netanyahu’s comments. In an interview with Israel’s Channel 12, Lapid warned that further international isolation could bring sanctions, threaten security cooperation with the United States, and damage the Israeli economy.
The exchange highlighted the competing messages at the heart of the election campaign. Netanyahu’s critics are focusing on accountability, international relations, economic stability, and the consequences of prolonged conflict, while the government faces mounting pressure to explain its handling of national security and the country’s future direction.
An election shaped by security, accountability, and public trust
With voting approaching, the protests in Tel Aviv underscored the depth of divisions within Israeli society. For families affected by the October 7 attacks, the demand for an independent investigation remains a question of truth and responsibility. For opposition supporters, the election offers an opportunity to challenge the government’s leadership and pursue a different political course.
The final outcome will determine more than the balance of power in parliament. It will also shape the direction of Israel’s domestic politics, its relationships with international partners, and the debate over accountability for the security failures that preceded the Gaza war.
Whether the election produces a clear governing majority or another period of political uncertainty remains to be seen. What is clear is that demands for answers, public confidence in leadership, and concerns about Israel’s economic and diplomatic future have become central issues in the campaign.
As thousands took to the streets just days before voting, their message was unmistakable: questions surrounding October 7, government responsibility, and Israel’s future remain unresolved, and many voters want those questions addressed.
Source: Agence France-Presse (AFP), based on the supplied report.
