TEL AVIV (Dispatches) – People staged protests Saturday across the Israeli-occupied territories, demanding the resignation of the occupying regime’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet, Anadolu Agency reports.
They accused it of obstructing a ceasefire and prisoner swap agreement with the Gaza Strip.
Hundreds of thousands criticized Netanyahu, reiterating their demand for the resignation of his cabinet for “the most right-wing cabinet in Israel’s history” and early elections.
Protests were held in Tel Aviv, Haifa, Beersheba, West Al-Quds and other parts of the occupied territories.
The main protest centered around the war ministry in Tel Aviv, with protesters carrying banners, posters and placards against Netanyahu and members of his cabinet.
Speaking to demonstrators on Kaplan Street near the war ministry, opposition leader and former Prime Minister Yair Lapid promised to “overthrow” the cabinet in elections.
Lapid emphasized that they would not negotiate with Netanyahu’s cabinet and would not back down.
“We will win. Bibi (Netanyahu) is not actually growing stronger. The people are not on their side. There are no elections because they are terrified of elections because they know the truth,” he said.
Before the protest in Tel Aviv, Einav Zangauker, the mother of captive Matan Zangauker, accused Netanyahu of sabotaging negotiations for a ceasefire and prisoner swap in Gaza.
Zangauker criticized Netanyahu for continuing military aggression in Gaza for political gain and rejecting a prisoner swap agreement.
“Ending the war is neither an obstacle nor a cost. Ending the war to bring all the captives back is the goal,” she said.
Netanyahu is accused by Israelis and international public opinion of refusing to negotiate a prisoner swap with the Palestinian resistance group, Hamas, for political reasons.
It is estimated that there are currently 101 captives in Gaza.
While ceasefire and prisoner swap negotiations continue under the mediation of Egypt and Qatar, the Israeli military has continued intense airstrikes on Gaza.