Massive Protest Rocks Israel; Demonstrators Demand Prime Minister Netanyahu's Resignation

Israel on March 31 witnessed a massive protest against the Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government, with tens of thousands of people taking to the streets across different cities. The demonstrators raised their voice against the exemptions given to ultra-Orthodox Jewish men from the military service, among others.

Currently, the Prime Minister is facing one of the biggest threats as the Ultra-orthodox Jewish men, a powerful member in Netanyahu”s coalition want to continue the exception while the centralist Jews argue for equal shares of all citizens in compulsory military services. The protesters wanted the burden of military service in equal share. The families of the hostages also joined the protest and pressed for a ceasefire deal and the release of captives.

A protest had occurred in 2023 against the government over the military service rule. The 2023 protest gathered outside the parliament had called for a new election to replace the government.

However, the protesters on Sunday called for a ceasefire and the return of the hostages from Gaza. The protesters also held the government responsible for the security laps, leading to the October 7th attack on Israeli territory. People gathered across different citizens waved the country”s flag and chanted “election now,” expressing thief dissatisfaction with the government”s handling of the ongoing war. Since the start, over 600 Israeli soldiers have been killed, marking the military”s highest casualties in decades.

The protesters blocked the main highway and raised slogans against the zionist regime”s failure to protect and return the captives from Gaza. The protest marks the largest demonstration since the beginning of the war, which was held in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa, Be’er Sheva, Caesarea and other cities. The protesters termed president Netanyahu as “obstacle to the deal” with Hamas and declared to continue the protest until reaching a solution.

In November last year, a truce deal with Hamas secured the release of more than 100 captives in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. Hamas has since expressed its willingness towards further deals with Israel, with Israel continuing its assault on Gaza relentlessly.