Anti-Netanyahu Protesters Demand Inquiry Ahead of General Election

Thousands of protesters gathered in Tel Aviv on Saturday for an anti-government rally organized by the October Council, a group composed of victims' families and former hostages. The demonstration took place three days before the October 27 general election, which is widely viewed as a referendum on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Protesters and opposition leaders demanded the establishment of an independent state commission of inquiry to investigate security failures surrounding the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack. While Netanyahu's government has refused an independent probe, offering instead a politically appointed commission, opposition figures Gadi Eisenkot and Yair Lapid have vowed to establish a state commission if they gain power.

The rally occurred amid a tight electoral race and growing international isolation. Opposition leaders criticized Netanyahu's recent suggestions to develop an alternative digital economy to circumvent sanctions, arguing such a move would risk the stability of the Israeli economy.