As Israel’s military assault on Gaza reached its half-year mark, tens of thousands of Israelis have taken to the streets to protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Organizers of the protest said about 100,000 people converged at a Tel Aviv crossroads now called Democracy Square.
Africa Today News, New York reports that the protesters were bearing placards with various inscriptions, chanting “elections now”, as they called for the prime minister’s resignation.
The war in Gaza is set to enter its seventh month today (Sunday).
Rallies were also held in different cities, with Israel’s opposition leader, Yair Lapid participating in one in Kfar Saba.
“They haven’t learned anything, they haven’t changed,” he said, adding, “until we send them home, they won’t give this country a chance to move forward.”
Reports in Israel said that clashes broke out between the protesters and the police at the country’s capital, adding that the police confirmed the arrest of one protester.
In another report, the President of the United States, Joe Biden has mounted pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to implement “specific, concrete and measurable” steps that will be aimed at protecting civilians and aid workers in Gaza, the White House said after a phone call between the two leaders.
The call was the first direct communication between Biden and Netanyahu since an Israeli attack killed seven humanitarian workers for World Central Kitchen earlier this week.
Biden on Friday appeared to caution Netanyahu, according to a White House statement describing the talks.
“President Biden emphasized that the strikes on humanitarian workers and the overall humanitarian situation are unacceptable,” the White House said.
Biden also “made clear that US policy concerning Gaza will be determined by our assessment of Israel’s immediate action” to address the harm and suffering.
White House national security spokesperson John Kirby later suggested that there would be consequences for Israel if it does not increase the flow of aid into Gaza and take measures to safeguard civilians and humanitarian workers. But he declined to provide details.