Allegations of Manipulating the Conflict for Political Power
Israeli protesters are making sharp accusations against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, contending that the recent Gaza military strikes are a tactical action to save his political reputation and weaken Israel’s democratic system. The strikes, which broke a fragile ceasefire, further intensified the already charged political atmosphere in Israel.
Shin Bet Chief’s Sacking Draws Fury
Anger increased after Netanyahu’s embattled move to sack Ronen Bar, the head of Israel’s Shin Bet internal security agency. Experts have flagged concerns over the lawfulness of the action as unprecedented. Bar and Netanyahu had clashed after Shin Bet acknowledged that there were blunders in foiling Hamas’s unexpected attack of October 7, 2023.
Critics Cry Out for Political Agenda Behind Military Operation
“This new military operation is being used as a tool for domestic politics. Having an external foe serves to quiet opposition,” protested former Israeli navy officer Ora Peled Nakash and protest organizer.
Hostage Families Demand Ceasefire
Meanwhile, families who have their members being held as hostages by Hamas are mobilizing protests, demanding an immediate ceasefire and prisoner release negotiations. Ayelet Svatitzky’s brother Nadav Popplewell perished in captivity, and she underscored the need to bring back surviving hostages and recover the remains of the dead.
“We want a ceasefire to prevent lives from being lost. These individuals can still be brought back home,” Svatitzky said.
Netanyahu’s Political Future In Jeopardy
Netanyahu is not only battling to obtain parliamentary backing from his hard-right coalition colleagues, most notably who oppose halting hostilities in Gaza. Itamar Ben-Gvir, who resigned earlier amid the fall of the previous government in January over the ceasefire, is back in government, and this adds to the rightward push on Netanyahu’s choices.
Legal Problems and Public Outrage
Apart from having to weather the political storm, Netanyahu is also facing court battles, including a current corruption trial. He was recently allowed by a court to skip a scheduled hearing due to the Gaza escalation. Shin Bet is also currently probing top Netanyahu aides for suspected security breaches and illegal financial dealings with Qatar.
War or Negotiation? Divided Israeli Sentiment
In spite of calls across the board for a ceasefire to deliver the last 59 hostages—many of whom are believed dead—there is still overwhelming support for the continuation of military actions until Hamas is beaten definitively.
A message from the Tikva Forum of Families of Hostages reaffirmed this position: “Only dogged military action and total siege will coerce Hamas, a group recognized as a terrorist organization by several nations, into accepting an unconditional hostage release,” reported World News
