Thousands of Israelis rally for hostage swap and Israeli PM Netanyahu’s ouster

Thousands of Israelis took to the streets on Saturday, staging protests across several cities, including Tel Aviv, Netanya, Haifa, and Qiryat Tivon junction. The demonstrators demanded a hostage swap deal with Palestinian factions and called for the dismissal of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.

The protests were reported by the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, highlighting the widespread call for the release of hostages held in Gaza, the scheduling of early elections, and the ousting of Netanyahu.

Since October of last year, nearly 37,300 Palestinians, predominantly women and children, have been killed in Gaza by Israeli forces, with approximately 85,200 others injured, according to local health authorities. More than eight months into the conflict, large areas of Gaza remain devastated amid a crippling blockade restricting access to food, clean water, and medical supplies.

The ICJ has accused Israel of genocide, issuing a recent ruling ordering Tel Aviv to cease its operations in Rafah immediately. Over one million Palestinians had sought refuge in Rafah before it was invaded on May 6.