Will Israel’s week of resistance make a difference?
Anti-government demonstrators outside the Ministry of Defence in Tel Aviv on 15 June 2024
Al Jazeera staff write on 18 June 2024:
Several anti-government groups in Israel have launched a week of resistance against the government. They are calling for a deal to release the captives taken by Hamas-led groups that attacked Israel on October 7. They are also angry at how the current government is performing and are demanding early elections to choose a new government.
Here’s a breakdown of what’s going on:
What do they plan to do?
The first of a series of protests took place in Tel Aviv on Sunday, with thousands of Israelis in the streets. They blocked roads and surrounded the defence headquarters and Democracy Square – a main Tel Aviv intersection – as well as Hostages Square, a plaza about 500 metres (550 yards) away as the crow flies and made famous by numerous protests there calling for the return of the captives.
Images on Israeli television showed demonstrators lighting fires in the middle of highways and marching towards the residence of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu before being stopped by police.
Who’s involved?
A variety of anti-government groups that Israeli channel N12 News said included Brothers in Arms, Building an Alternative, an anti-Netanyahu collective and the Pink Front held the protests in Tel Aviv on Sunday. Joining them was a former member of the war cabinet, retired general Benny Gantz.
At least one former captive was also involved. Andrey Kozlov addressed crowds at Hostage Square, saying: “For the hostages who are still in Gaza, there is one decision, only one. It is a deal between Israel and Hamas.”