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Tel Aviv: Thousands of people held anti-government protests in many parts of Israel on Saturday night. These people are demanding the release of those held hostage in Gaza and new elections in the country. According to The Times of Israel report, on Kaplan Street in Tel Aviv, famous Israeli writer David Grossman appealed to the people to take to the streets and fight for the country. Former head of Shin Bet, Yuval Diskin, called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “the worst and most unsuccessful prime minister in the history of the state.” Diskin demanded elections as soon as possible. Diskin served as the head of the Shin Bet intelligence agency from 2005 to 2011. People protested on King George Street outside Beit Jabotinsky, the headquarters of the ruling Likud party. Some protesters were carrying banners demanding early elections, while some had banners with slogans demanding an end to the fighting in Gaza.
Scuffle with police
Even after the main rally ended, many protesters remained and blocked traffic on the road. Protesters also burnt tires. According to a report in The Times of Israel, mounted police personnel dispersed the crowd and arrested three protesters. During this, there was also a scuffle between protesters and police. Labor MLA Gilad Kariv was also among the protesters, who shouted that the mounted police should move off the sidewalks and warned that their deployment was illegal.
Protest outside Netanyahu’s residence
Meanwhile, thousands of people protested outside the residence of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu on Azza Street. It is being described as the largest protest since October 7. Protesters led by family members of those held hostage by Hamas marched on King George Street and demanded an immediate settlement and early elections. Protesters accused Netanyahu’s government of abandoning Israel’s troubled northern communities, whose nearly 60,000 residents have been displaced by Hezbollah shelling for more than eight months.
Release of hostages with conditions
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum held rallies across the country, including addresses by hostages released from captivity by Hamas in November. It is believed that 116 people taken hostage by Hamas on October 7 remain in Gaza, not all of them alive. Hamas has repeatedly said that it will release the hostages only when Israel permanently ends the war. Israel has rejected this demand of Hamas. Let us tell you that on October 7, Hamas terrorists attacked southern Israel, in which 1,200 people were killed and 251 were taken hostage.
