Thousands of people gathered in Tel Aviv on Saturday to protest Netanyahu and his government, demanding accountability for the failures surrounding the October 7, 2023, attack, as opposition leader Avigdor Liberman separately called for a criminal investigation into Netanyahu over allegations that he is seeking to reignite fighting with Iran ahead of the election.
The rally at Hostages Square was organized by the October Council.
Protesters demanded an independent commission of inquiry into the failures surrounding the attack, but Netanyahu has refused to establish such an inquiry, intensifying criticism of his government's handling of the crisis.
The demonstration added to mounting domestic pressure on the Israeli regime, with protesters demanding answers from a leadership facing scrutiny over security failures and its decisions before and during the war.
Meanwhile, Liberman, leader of the Yisrael Beytenu party, said he had written to attorney general Gali Baharav-Miara requesting a criminal investigation into Netanyahu over treason, citing reports that the prime minister had been taking steps to reignite fighting with Iran.
In his letter, Liberman claimed that Netanyahu had spent the past month “pressuring security chiefs to take steps that might cause a miscalculation vis-a-vis Iran.”
“The attempt to drag Israel to a war on the eve of the election, coupled with the willingness to sacrifice IDF soldiers just because he’s afraid of an election loss, are a betrayal of the state, its security and IDF soldiers,” Liberman wrote.
However, a criminal investigation appears unlikely, as Liberman's letter does not provide specific examples or evidence substantiating the serious allegations.
The allegations have added another dimension to the criticism of Netanyahu's leadership, linking concerns over domestic accountability with fears that renewed confrontation with Iran could place Israeli forces at further risk.
Beyond the domestic political crisis, Netanyahu's government continues to face scrutiny over its military campaign in Gaza, where the Israeli regime has been accused of genocide amid widespread destruction and the devastating consequences of its war on Palestinians.
The ongoing genocide in Gaza has become a central issue in international condemnation of Israel, while the criminal actions of Israeli forces and the occupation's broader policies continue to fuel demands for accountability and an end to the violence against Palestinians.