Thousands protest against Netanyahu in Tel Aviv ahead of Knesset election

Thousands of Israelis demonstrated in Tel Aviv on Saturday, calling for those responsible for security failures ahead of the October 7, 2023 attack to be held accountable and for the formation of an official inquiry. The protest took place three days before the Knesset election scheduled for Tuesday, October 27, widely seen as a referendum on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's leadership.

The protest was organized by the 'October Council,' a group founded by families of hostages to demand transparency and accountability for the failures that allowed the Hamas-led attack, which triggered the war in Gaza. According to Agence France-Presse, the council said on X that the demonstration marked the final event of its three-year campaign for accountability and the establishment of an official inquiry.

The protests come as the election race tightens between Netanyahu’s right-wing bloc, in power since late 2022, and the opposition alliance led by his main rival, Gadi Eisenkot, who is aligned with the center-right.

Polls and estimates suggest that neither bloc is likely to secure a majority in the Knesset, making the election results crucial in determining the shape of the next governing coalition.

Netanyahu’s government has rejected calls for an independent inquiry into the security failures before the October 7 attack, instead proposing a committee in which half the members would be appointed by the ruling coalition and the other half by opposition lawmakers.

The 'October Council' warned law enforcement about potential attempts to disrupt the protest, after receiving alerts that groups linked to the ruling coalition might try to cause disturbances during the gathering. The council said it had sent an urgent letter to the police commissioner, demanding action to prevent any provocations targeting demonstrators.

The demonstration is part of ongoing efforts by civil society activists and opposition parties to demand an independent investigation into the security lapses preceding the attack, amid continued disagreement over which body should conduct the probe and how its members should be selected.