Protests grow across Israel as war with Hamas enters ninth month

While some focused on overthrowing Netanyahu’s government and others on a two-state solution, Israeli protesters who spoke to The Media Line were united in their demand for a hostage release.

As the war with Hamas entered its ninth month on Sunday, protesters across Israel gathered to call for a ceasefire and demand the resignation of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

For months leading up to October 7, protest groups opposing Netanyahu’s planned judicial reforms held weekly rallies across Israel. After October 7, these demonstrations were briefly suspended and then resumed with calls for new elections and for the government to be held accountable for the largest massacre in Israel’s history.

Recently, the main anti-government protests in Tel Aviv have been organized by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, a group calling for the release of Israelis still held captive by Hamas. Protest groups also demonstrated against a law exempting ultra-Orthodox men from compulsory military service. Israel’s Supreme Court later overturned the law.

The Media Line spoke to protesters in Tel Aviv, all of whom wished to remain anonymous, about their views on the situation in Israel.

We are here today because we demand elections. This government is driving the country into the abyss at a rapid pace.

“We come to protest almost every week,” one demonstrator told The Media Line. “Today we have come because we are demanding elections. This government is driving the country into the abyss very quickly.”

She stated that she and her fellow protesters did not agree with the government’s decision to continue the war in the Gaza Strip.

“There is no reason to stay in Gaza anymore. This is now only happening because of Netanyahu’s political ambitions,” she said.

“We have many criticisms of the government, especially the prime minister,” another protester told The Media Line. “The most important thing is the release of the hostages. We are worried that this time he has all sorts of political preferences in his decisions.”

Protesters gather for a rally in downtown Tel Aviv on July 7, 2024, to demand the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza since October 7 and the resignation of Prime Minister Netanyahu. (Dario Sanchez/The Media Line)

A third protester told The Media Line that she was protesting for a two-state solution.

We believe in the two-country solution. We believe in the possibility of two peoples living side by side.

“Now the government is really right-wing,” said the third demonstrator. “These are extreme, fascist people who are ready to keep fighting until they occupy Gaza again. But we don’t believe in that. We believe in the solution of two countries. We believe in the possibility of two peoples living side by side.”

She said the events of October 7 had not shaken her beliefs.

“I still believe that a two-state solution is the only solution. All this happened because of the Palestinian issue and the way we have treated it for so many years,” she said.

Another man in the crowd chimed in: “75 years of war is not a solution. It hasn’t worked. So maybe we can try a different direction.”

Some of the protesters wanted to elect a new government to help Israel recover from the ongoing war.

“We want a broad government, regardless of views or nationality, that will first start by rebuilding this country, uniting the people and winning back the South and the North,” one of these protesters told The Media Line.

Others continued to focus on the release of the approximately 120 hostages still held in Gaza.

“We are here to support the hostages and their families. There were several opportunities to make a deal and this government did not use them. For us now it is a matter of solidarity and protest,” one protester told The Media Line.

All the important and difficult decisions in Israel regarding the release of the hostages were made as a result of public pressure. We simply cannot remain silent.

“All the important and tough decisions in Israel to release the hostages were made due to public pressure. We simply cannot remain silent,” said another protester.