Ground Down: Israelis Protest as New Fighting Erupts In Gaza, Lebanon

Tens of thousands of Israelis demonstrated across the country over the weekend to protest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s removal of senior officials, and demanded action to free the remaining hostages from Oct. 7, even as new fighting broke out in Gaza and on the Lebanese border, Reuters reported.

The protests – now in their sixth consecutive day – intensified after Netanyahu’s cabinet on Sunday approved a no-confidence vote against Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara.

Justice Minister Yariv Levin called on her to resign, citing “substantial and prolonged differences of opinion” that he said obstructed the government’s ability to function. The attorney general – appointed under former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett – has frequently clashed with Netanyahu and his officials, most recently over the legality of dismissing Ronen Bar, the chief of the internal security organization Shin Bet.

Bar’s removal – approved by the government last week – was suspended by the country’s supreme court pending a hearing early next month, according to CNN.

The dismissals of Baharav-Miara and Bar have fueled widespread anger, with critics accusing Netanyahu of undermining democratic institutions and weakening checks on executive power.

Protesters filled the streets of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, carrying signs reading “Save Israeli democracy,” and calling for Netanyahu’s resignation. Many also joined marches organized by families of the 59 hostages still believed to be held in Gaza.

“All they want is power, and they are sacrificing the kidnapped and the values that the State of Israel was built on, that we value life and morality,” protester Sharon Huderland told Reuters.

Universities and public institutions also signaled a growing resistance to the government, with Hebrew University in Jerusalem warning it would suspend operations if the government ignores Supreme Court rulings on the dismissals.

Opposition leaders and legal analysts have accused Netanyahu of using the dismissals to shield himself from investigations, including a Shin Bet probe into alleged financial ties between his office and Qatar.

Netanyahu denied the allegations and described the investigation as politically motivated. He defended Bar’s dismissal as necessary for national security, adding that the official was being removed due to a “breakdown of trust” over the agency’s failure to prevent the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack that sparked the conflict in Gaza.

The unrest comes as Israel intensified military operations in Gaza, resuming airstrikes that the Hamas-run Health Ministry says have killed more than 600 people since Tuesday, the Washington Post wrote.

Defense Minister Israel Katz warned the military would permanently occupy parts of Gaza unless Hamas agreed to release all hostages, the BBC added.

Meanwhile, Israel launched a series of airstrikes in southern Lebanon on Saturday, killing seven people, in retaliation for rockets fired from across the border.

The attack marked the largest escalation since the November ceasefire with Hezbollah.

In response, Hezbollah denied launching the rockets and accused Israel of using “false pretexts” to continue its attacks on Lebanon. The militant group said it remains committed to the ceasefire.