Thousands rally in Tel Aviv against Netanyahu days before Israel election

Thousands of people gathered in Tel Aviv on Saturday to protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government, days before Israel's first general election since the Gaza war began. The rally took place in Hostages Square, a public plaza in the city centre, and focused on demands for an independent inquiry into the security failures linked to the October 7, 2023 attacks. Demonstrations were also reported elsewhere in Israel, indicating that the protest mood extended beyond Tel Aviv.

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The event was organised by the October Council, a group founded by families of captives taken to Gaza, which said the rally marked the culmination of three years of campaigning for accountability and a state commission of inquiry. Ahead of the protest, the group warned law enforcement about possible provocation, according to the supporting report. Opposition figures joined the demonstration, including Gadi Eisenkot of the Yashar party and Yair Golan, leader of the Democrats.

Eisenkot, who is described as Netanyahu's main centre-right rival, was greeted in Tel Aviv by chants of support from the crowd. The rally also drew attention because it came only three days before Tuesday's vote, at a time when polls suggest a tight contest. The supporting report says Netanyahu's right-wing bloc and Eisenkot's bloc are neck and neck, and neither is currently projected to win a majority in the Knesset.

The protest carries wider political significance because the election may shape Israel's next government approach to security and foreign policy. The report says the result could be pivotal in determining whether Israel launches another round of strikes on Iran. It also notes that, on most other foreign policy questions, leading Israeli parties remain broadly aligned, including in their opposition to the creation of an independent Palestinian state.

The rally is part of a longer campaign by families and supporters seeking answers over the failures that allowed the October 7 attack to take place. The October Council has framed its campaign around truth, accountability and the establishment of a formal state inquiry. That demand has become a central issue in the political debate as the country heads into its first national election since the war began.

What remains unclear is how large the turnout was across the separate demonstrations reported in Israel and whether the protests will affect the final days of campaigning. It is also not yet clear whether the election outcome will produce a governing majority or force further coalition negotiations. The main immediate point to watch is whether the inquiry demand becomes a decisive issue in the vote and in the formation of the next government.

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