By Shahrokh Saei
Protesters accuse PM Netanyahu of committing crimes against captives
TEHRAN- Political rifts are considerably widening in Israel in the wake of widespread domestic protests over the continuation of the regime’s onslaught in Gaza.
Protesters in Israeli cities rallied at the weekend to voice their objection to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s approach toward the Gaza war.
Israel declared war on Gaza soon after Hamas conducted a surprise attack in southern Israel on October 7.
Over 1,100 people were killed and nearly 250 others were taken captive during Operation Al-Aqsa Flood.
More than 100 captives were released in a truce deal last November. The Israeli military has said some 129 captives are still being held in Gaza, including dozens who are presumed dead. They have lost their lives in Israeli strikes on Gaza.
Protesters in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem called for ending the Gaza war and returning the remaining captives. They also demanded early elections and Netanyahu’s resignation.
Anti-Netanyahu protesters and families of captives clashed with Israeli police in Tel Aviv on Saturday.
Demonstrators blocked a major highway in Tel Aviv and ignited fires on the road while police made several arrests.
Dani Miran, the father of one of the captives, called on Netanyahu and his war cabinet to reach a ceasefire deal with Hamas.
“Declare an end to the fighting if it leads to the retrieval of the hostages,” said Einav Zangauker, the mother of another captive.
She made a blistering attack on Netanyahu for failing to return the captives.
“No [parliamentary] seat in the world is worth my son’s life, or the lives of 132 hostages in Gaza. Stop clinging to your seat,” Zangauker said in a speech to thousands of protesters.
She accused some members of Likud’s wartime coalition of whitewashing Netanyahu’s crimes.
“You did not achieve the goals of the fighting and you let Netanyahu kill deals for the hostages’ retrieval. You whitewashed Netanyahu’s crimes against the hostages.”
Families of the captives and anti-Netanyahu demonstrators also held joint rallies in Jerusalem.
The rallies were completely different from previous weeks. Because they had previously held separate weekly protests each Saturday night.
They called for the release of the captives and shouted “shame” at mentions of Netanyahu and his coalition.
Protesters also gathered near Netanyahu’s residence in Caesarea and the residence of President Isaac Herzog in West Jerusalem calling for early elections.
Demonstrators have also called on the army not to launch a ground military offensive in Rafah, saying the assault risks the lives of the captives.
Protests in Israel intensified after Hamas released a video showing two captives held in Gaza who called on the regime to reach a deal with the resistance movement.
Earlier on Saturday, a forum representing the families of the captives released a statement which acknowledged that Israel has failed to achieve its goals in Gaza through military operations.
"For half a year, we have been told that military pressure will lead to the release of the hostages. This strategy has failed. Today we are calling on all members of the government: If the only way to a comprehensive deal for the hostages is to end the war, end the war to bring the hostages home to us!"
It also demanded that the Israeli army stop its planned ground incursion into Rafah.
More than half of Gaza’s 2.3 million population has sought shelter in the territory’s southernmost city of Rafah. It is the only corner of the strip that has not seen fierce ground fighting. UN agencies and human rights organizations have warned of a humanitarian catastrophe if Israel launches a ground offensive in Rafah.
In addition to international calls for ending Israel’s brutal war on Gaza, more people inside Israel are demanding that the regime stop the onslaught.
The Netanyahu regime has failed to bring the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas to its knees after nearly seven months of strikes which have claimed the lives of more than 34,000 people, mostly women and children.
Nonetheless, Netanyahu seeks to prolong the war to save himself from the day of reckoning because he is under immense pressure for failing to prevent Operation Al-Aqsa Flood.
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