Why are Israelis protesting against Netanyahu’s government?

In Israel, thousands of demonstrators have congregated outside government buildings, marking nearly six months into the conflict with Gaza. Among their demands is the resignation of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Israeli police have employed water cannons and physical force to disperse protesters in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Will this societal pressure prompt the Prime Minister to reconsider his stance on the war?

The facts

On Sunday, tens of thousands of people gathered outside the Knesset in Jerusalem, where a four-day protest was called. While protests have occurred sporadically since the start of the war on Gaza, this is believed to be the largest anti-government demonstration since it began. Protesters vowed to continue for several days, with thousands flooding the streets of Tel Aviv.

Protests also grew in other cities in Israel. Demonstrations were also reported in Haifa, Be’er Sheva and Caesarea among other cities on Saturday.

Protesters’ demands have changed during the war on Gaza as discontent with Netanyahu’s government has grown.

Initially, protesters called for the release of Israeli captives. Nearly four months into the war, there were protests saying the government was simply not doing enough. Now these are full-blown anti-government demonstrations.

Protesters have been pushing for early elections and the removal of Netanyahu since January

The arguments

The protesters have been demanding that the government secure a Gaza ceasefire deal immediately to allow for the return of captives taken by Hamas from Israel, early elections and the resignation of Netanyahu.

Hamas took more than 200 captives during its attack on army outposts and surrounding villages in southern Israel on October 7. Nearly half were released during a temporary pause in fighting in November in exchange for several Palestinians held prisoner by Israel.:03

The protests are adding to mounting local and global pressure on Netanyahu, who continues to assert that military action in Gaza is the only way to release the captives rather than compromise in negotiations.

In a press conference on Sunday, he said the Israeli military is ready to invade Rafah – Gaza’s southernmost town on the border with Egypt – despite criticism from other countries, including close ally the United States.

The United Nations Security Council voted in favour of a ceasefire resolution last week, on which the US abstained, allowing it to pass, placing further strain on the relationship between the US and Israel.

Netanyahu has also dismissed calls for early elections, which opinion polls suggest he would lose. “The last thing we need right now are elections and dealing with elections, since it will immediately divide us,” he said at a press briefing in March.

There is little chance Netanyahu will face enough internal pressure from within the government to consider resigning. However in January, a survey conducted by the Israel Democracy Institute showed that only 15% of Israelis want Netanyahu to keep his job after the war on Gaza.