SAO PAULO, SP (Folhapress)-Thousands of protesters in Jerusalem protested against Binyamin Netanyahu on Wednesday (19). Israel’s Prime Minister was accused of adopting an undemocratic turn and continuing the war against Hamas without considering the hostages still under the power of the terrorist group in the Gaza Strip.
The demonstration, the largest of the last few months, was organized by opposition groups to Netanyahu, who contest their decision to dismiss Ronen Bar, the head of Shin Bet, Internal Intelligence and Safety Service.
The Gaza Ministry of Health, controlled by Hamas, said on Wednesday that, after the Israeli bombing that seal the end of the truce, the death toll rose to 970 to 970 in the last 48 hours. The total of Palestinians murdered since the beginning of the conflict reached 49,547 in an updated balance.
Two people, one of them United Nations, were killed in an attack that hit the UN building in Deir Al-Balah in downtown Gaza, an AFP’s collaborator told the international organization. Hamas confirms that a worker from the world institution is among the victims.
One of the deceased worked for the United Nations Office for Project Services (Unops), the source said.
This Wednesday’s protest against the Israeli Parliament was also attended by relatives of the hostages, who criticized the bombing in Gaza, resumed on Monday night (17), after a truce of almost two months.
Among the phrases chanted in Jerusalem, “you are the boss, you have the blame” and “you have blood in your hands” were the most shouted by the protesters. Others displayed posters with “we are all hostages” or asked for the United States “save Israel from Netanyahu.”
“We hope that all the people of Israel are unite with the movement and continue until democracy is restored and hostages are released,” AFP Zeev Bear, 68, traveled to Jerusalem of Tel Aviv.
The relatives of the hostages consider that, by authorizing the resumption of bombing on Tuesday (18), the Prime Minister “sacrificed the hostages still alive”, who could die under the bombs.
Protesters accuse Netanyahu of taking advantage of the war against Hamas to silence criticism and concentrate power in the hands of the government.
Protests in 2023 occurred when Netanyahu tried to dismiss then Minister of Defense, Yoav Gallant, for opposing judicial reform, before Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023. Critics see Netanyahu, Prime Minister six times, as a threat to Israeli democracy.
“This government does not respect the red signs,” said Yair Lapid, former prime minister and leader of the centrist opposition party Yesh Atid, on the X social network. “Enough! I appeal to all of you, this is our moment, this is our future. Go to the streets.”
Israel’s renewed bombing in Gaza received a conviction of Arab countries, Europe and the United Nations.
Netanyahu announced on Sunday that he intended to dismiss Shin Bet’s head and said he has no confidence in Ronen Bar due to his failure to prevent the 2023 attack.
Netanyahu’s government also began a legislative procedure against the Attorney General’s Office of Israel, which expressed reserves about its policy.
While his right -wing coalition remains united, Netanyahu has been able to resist protests and avoid pressure for new elections. Opinion research suggests that he would lose any claim due to growing public dissatisfaction for failures that allowed Hamas to attack Southern communities in 2023.
