Comment: Not to end the slaughter of Palestinians, to bring back Jewish hostages. Even when their country's very existence is in the balance, their sole focus is on themselves...
© Ohad Zwigenberg / APFILE: Israelis protest against Netanyahu, April 2, 2024. The protesters conducted the protest to express their frustration towards Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu's administration, accusing the Israeli government of failing to ensure the speedy release of the hostages.
During the demonstration which took place on Wednesday, some of the protesters covered their hands in yellow paint as well.
The protesters conducted the protest to express their frustration towards Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu's administration, accusing the Israeli government of failing to ensure the speedy release of the hostages.
These hostages have been held captive in Gaza following the October 7 massacre by Hamas in southern Israeli territories.
In light of this, security personnel immediately confronted the activists and pushed them away from the windows. They eventually escorted the crowd out of the Israeli parliament. The video of the whole ordeal circulated online.
Comment: Footage:
Netanyahu govt faces pressure over hostage situation
The incident took place while the Israeli lawmakers were voting on a climate-related bill. During the demonstration, several opposition members in the plenum raised their hands in solidarity with the protesters in the gallery above.
The Netanyahu administration has been facing immense public pressure in Israel and abroad as many slam him for not pursuing a hostage deal quickly.
Earlier this week, several family members of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza who had US-Israel citizenship told the Israeli premier that they are receiving better treatment from the White House than from the Israeli government, Axios reported.
Meanwhile, senior members of the Netanyahu government including ultranationalist finance minister Betzalel Smotrich, have stated that the hostages should not be Israel's "top priority" and that it is more important to destroy Hamas instead.
Amid the chaos, family members of the hostages have also stated that they have been frequently harassed by Netanyahu's supporters on social media.
The Israeli premier has been accused of not putting enough pressure on Qatar which is the key mediator of hostage and ceasefire talks. However, Netanyahu accused the United States of the delay instead.
"They can do more to press Qatar," the Israeli prime minister said in one of the meetings with the families of the hostages, Axios reported.
Comment: Note, Israelis are protesting against Netanyahu's rule, and his continued refusal to make some kind of deal for the hostages. The protests to end Israel's genocide in Gaza are much, much smaller, because the majority of Israelis, rather tellingly, support the slaughter; some even think Israel is not being diabolical enough.
See also: Israel hostage families join biggest anti-government protests since war began