Israeli protesters rally against Netanyahu over resumption of war on Gaza

Israelis have staged a protest against Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to resume war on Gaza, calling for a renewed ceasefire deal to secure the release of the remaining captives.

Protesters gathered outside Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, in al-Quds on Wednesday, slamming Netanyahu for prioritizing his political interests and his ruling coalition over the regime’s interests, as well as the lives of Israeli captives.

The protesters blocked the main highway into al-Quds as they marched into the city, carrying banners reading, “The future of the coalition or the future of Israel.”

The protest came a day after Israel carried out new airstrikes on the Gaza Strip and killed more than 400 Palestinians, ending a temporary ceasefire.

Taking part in the protest, Elias Shraga, chairman of the Movement for Quality Government in Israel, a legal watchdog, said the war is aimed at keeping Netanyahu in power.

“Netanyahu wanted to escape justice. This is the only reason we are facing the regime coup and this bloody war. This is a dangerous mixture,” Shraga told CNN.

The renewed attacks took place just hours before a hearing in Netanyahu’s corruption trial where he was scheduled to testify.

“One reason he wanted to escape justice is because he wants to keep his coalition and he is ready to sacrifice his people, this is it. It’s very simple,” said Shraga, adding that the resumption of strikes showed once more that Netanyahu “doesn’t care about” the Israeli captives held in Gaza who were due to be released under the ceasefire deal.

Global outrage as Israel resumes bombing Gaza civilians after breaching ceasefire

World governments, UN officials and rights groups have voiced their outrage at the resumption of Israel’s barbaric aggression on the Gaza Strip.

The resumption of war has also helped Netanyahu shore up his shaky coalition ahead of a key vote on Israel’s budget later this month.

Shortly after Gaza was bombed on Tuesday, Itamar Ben-Gvir’s far-right Jewish Power party announced it would rejoin Netanyahu’s coalition.

Ben-Gvir and two other ministers of his part resigned in protest against January’s ceasefire deal.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid, who joined Wednesday’s protest, said the demonstration aims to “make sure that the government understands they cannot do whatever they want.”

Israel launched the campaign of genocide in Gaza on October 7, 2023. It has killed at least 49,547 Palestinians there so far.

In January, the Israeli regime was forced to agree to a ceasefire deal with Hamas given the regime’s failure to achieve any of its objectives, including the “elimination” of the Palestinian resistance movement or the release of captives.

The 42-day stage of the truce, which was marred by repeated Israeli violations, expired on March 1, but Israel is refraining from stepping into talks for the second stage of the agreement.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.ir