Thousands rally in Tel Aviv against Netanyahu ahead of vote

Thousands gathered in Tel Aviv on Saturday for a large anti-government demonstration, ahead of a general election viewed as a referendum on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The protest, organized by the October Council, aimed to demand accountability for the failure to prevent the Hamas attack in October 2023. Opponents of Netanyahu included the leaders of the four main opposition parties.

Three days before the election, the October Council planned to hold a rally marking three years of efforts to uncover the truth and demand accountability. Polls indicated neither Netanyahu's bloc nor the opposition would secure a parliamentary majority. The rally saw participants march from Rabin Square to Hostages Square, a site of past protests.

The Israeli police arrested a suspect who allegedly assaulted the security team of a public figure. Opponents accused Netanyahu of proposing an alternate digital economy, bbCoin, to circumvent international sanctions and isolate his government. Opposition leaders vehemently rejected this suggestion, emphasizing the potential economic and security consequences.