Thousands rally in Tel Aviv against Netanyahu ahead of vote

Thousands of demonstrators gathered in Tel Aviv on Saturday, advocating for accountability over security lapses leading up to the October 7 Hamas attack. The protest occurred just days before the Knesset election on Tuesday, October 27, viewed as a referendum on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's leadership. The demonstration, organized by the October Council, a coalition of families of hostages, marked the final phase of a three-year campaign for transparency and an official inquiry into the Hamas-led assault.

According to Agence France-Presse, the council announced the event on X, stating it concluded their three-year mission for accountability and establishing an official investigation. The protest coincides with a tightening race between Netanyahu's right-wing coalition, in power since late 2022, and the opposition alliance headed by his main rival, Gadi Eisenkot, aligned with the center-right.

Polls suggest neither side is likely to achieve a Knesset majority, making the election results pivotal in shaping the next government coalition. Netanyahu's administration has rejected demands for an independent inquiry into security failures before the October 7 attack, instead proposing a committee with half the members appointed by the ruling coalition and the other half by opposition lawmakers.

The October Council warned law enforcement about possible attempts to disrupt the protest, having sent an urgent letter to the police commissioner demanding measures to prevent provocations against demonstrators. The demonstration is part of ongoing efforts by civil society activists and opposition parties to secure an independent investigation into security lapses leading up to the attack, amid ongoing debates about the appropriate body for the probe and the selection of its members.