Protesters in Israel have accused Benjamin Netanyahu of ordering airstrikes in Gaza to provide cover for a campaign to dismantle Israel’s democratic system and maintain his power. This accusation comes after tensions surged in Israel following the prime minister’s announcement that he would seek to fire the head of the Shin Bet internal security service, a move legal experts say may be unlawful. According to Ora Peled Nakash, a former senior officer in Israel’s navy and protest organizer, the airstrikes are being used as a tool for political interests, creating an external threat to silence opponents. Groups representing hostages held by Hamas in Gaza are also planning demonstrations and calling for an immediate ceasefire. Ayelet Svatitzky, whose brother was killed in captivity in Gaza, emphasized the urgency of securing the release of remaining hostages. The protests were initially planned in response to Netanyahu’s move to oust the head of Shin Bet, amidst an ongoing dispute over the agency’s failures and the government’s policies. Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption and faces potential prison time if found guilty, has not accepted responsibility for any failures related to the 2023 attack, which killed over 1,200 people and led to the abduction of 251. As of now, 59 hostages are still in Gaza, and while there is strong public support for a ceasefire to secure their release, some relatives of hostages have backed the new strikes, advocating for increased military pressure to force Hamas into a ceasefire deal.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/18/israeli-protesters-say-airstrikes-are-cover-for-benjamin-netanyahu-to-keep-power