Thousands rally in Tel Aviv against Netanyahu ahead of vote

Thousands gathered in Tel Aviv on Oct 24 for a large anti-government demonstration, three days ahead of a general election widely viewed as a referendum on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.



The protest was organised by the October Council, a group founded by the families of victims and hostages taken by Palestinian militants on Oct 7, 2023, to demand accountability for the failure to prevent the Hamas attack that sparked the Gaza war.



According to Israeli media, the gathering saw the participation of the leaders of the four main opposition parties, including former military chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot, who is neck and neck with Netanyahu and who received a warm reception from the crowd.



"Three days before the election, we will hold the culminating event marking three years of struggle to uncover the truth, demand accountability, and establish a state commission of inquiry," the October Council wrote on X ahead of the rally.



The latest polls published before a gag period took effect on the night of Oct 23 showed that neither bloc would obtain a majority of seats in Israel's Parliament.