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Massive protests against Netanyahu, Israeli people angry with the death of 6 hostages
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The Israel-Hamas War is still going on after the death of thousands of people. With each passing day, the number of people losing their lives in the war is increasing, but the war does not stop. The Israeli Defense Forces have recovered the bodies of six hostages from the Rafah area of the Gaza Strip. Since then, the series of protests against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government has intensified in Israel. It is alleged that Netanyahu is not taking any serious steps for the release of the hostages.
The pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to send the hostages back home is increasing. Millions of people have come out on the streets of Israel and are constantly demanding Netanyahu reach an agreement with Hamas. Amidst the protests against Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Galant has said that time is running out. Galant’s statement is not a good sign for the government running on the crutches of six parties, and this is leading to differences emerging within the government itself.
Differences emerge between Netanyahu and Galant
Various Israeli channels have said that there was a heated debate between PM Netanyahu and Defense Minister Galant in the security cabinet meeting held on Thursday. The question between the two was whether the 14-kilometer Philadelphia corridor should be left as part of the agreement. This corridor is on the border between Gaza and Egypt. This corridor is currently being controlled by the Israeli Defense Forces.
The deployment of Israeli soldiers here has been a major issue of dispute with Hamas in the first phase of the ceasefire agreement. Hamas wants the Israeli army to withdraw from this area. Netanyahu wants the IDF to remain in this corridor, while Galant says that Hamas will not agree to this, so there will be no agreement and no hostage will be released.
Galant also warned that if we continue on this path, we will not be able to achieve the goals we have set for ourselves.
The government is also on the target of the opposition
The opposition in Israel is also surrounding the government. According to a media report, opposition leader Yair Lapid has criticized the government for not making any agreement ‘despite the circumstances allowing’.
Lapid said that Hamas is not responsible for our children. The Israeli government is responsible for this, and they should have made a hostage agreement, which was doable and should have been done a month ago.
What did Netanyahu say after the bodies of the hostages were found?
After the bodies of the hostages were found, Netanyahu has warned Hamas in very strong words. He said that whoever has killed our people, we do not want any compromise. We will find them and take them to account. Netanyahu also said that we will not rest and will not remain silent. We will chase you, catch you, and settle the account. Netanyahu’s warning shows that he is not in favor of any compromise. In such a situation, public protest can become more widespread.
Netanyahu recently said that Israel, with the support of the US, had agreed to a deal to release the hostages on 27 May 2023, but Hamas rejected the proposal. Netanyahu has condemned Hamas for refusing to negotiate.
Massive protests in Israel
Massive anti-government protests are taking place in Israel. Millions of people gathered outside the Knesset in Jerusalem. Protests have been seen in many small and big cities of Israel, including Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.
After the bodies of the hostages were recovered, the Israel Hostages and Missing Families Forum has announced massive protests across the country. The forum called for protests against the government. The forum said that the government left the hostages to die and no efforts were made for their release.
Systems affected due to the strike of the labor union
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has demanded the Israel Labor Court dismiss the strike. The strike has partially affected air, bus and rail services. At the same time, employees of Israel’s main commercial port Haifa, are also on strike. Hospitals were partially working and banks did not work.
One American is also among the bodies of the hostages found
Israel’s Foreign Ministry said in a post on the social media platform X that the bodies of six hostages have been found from the tunnel of Rafah. They have been identified as Harsh Goldberg, Eden Yerushalmi, Carmel Gat, Almog Sarousi, Alex Lubnov and Ori Danino. US President Joe Biden said that Israeli forces recovered the bodies of six people held hostage by Hamas. One of the hostages was American citizen Harsh Goldberg-Polin. Earlier on April 24, Hamas released a video in which Goldberg-Polin said that the captives were living in “hell”.
Hamas still has more than 100 hostages
Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October and took about 250 people hostage. 100 hostages were released during the ceasefire in November last year. At the same time, it is being said that 35 have died. However, more than 100 hostages are still being reported to be in the custody of Hamas.
Only two seats more than the majority
During the elections held in Israel in November 2022, Netanyahu’s coalition government won a total of 63 seats in the 120-seat parliament. Out of which Netanyahu’s Likud party got 32 seats. 61 seats are necessary for a majority in Israel, and in such a situation, Netanyahu is on the edge.
Differences between Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Galant are also raising many questions. Yoav Galant started his political journey through the Kulanu party and later joined Likud. In such a situation, it remains to be seen what direction his anger will take.
