Thousands of Israelis demonstrate in downtown Tel Aviv demanding an immediate exchange deal and the overthrow of the Netanyahu government

Tens of thousands of Israelis demonstrated on Saturday in the cities of Tel Aviv and Caesarea, to demand a prisoner exchange deal with Palestinian factions in Gaza.

According to the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, tens of thousands of Israelis demonstrated in the Abductees Square in downtown Tel Aviv, demanding an immediate exchange deal, and the overthrow of Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, through early elections.

According to Yedioth Ahronoth, the demonstration in Tel Aviv is the largest in the city since the seventh of October.

Police cracked down on demonstrators in Tel Aviv, spraying them with sewage, and severely beating a number of them, according to the state broadcaster.

A police statement said they arrested three protesters in Tel Aviv on charges of rioting, arsonism and violence against police officers.

For its part, the private Israeli channel 12 said on X that the police prevented its crew from practicing its work and assaulted one of its workers.

In Jerusalem, thousands of Israelis demonstrated at Paris Square in the center of the city, as part of the demonstrations demanding a prisoner exchange deal, according to channel 12.

“Thousands of Israelis demonstrated in the center of the city of Caesarea to demand an exchange deal,” according to Yedioth Ahronoth.

Protesters in Caesarea headed to Netanyahu’s home in the city and demanded that he resign immediately, Yedioth Ahronoth said.

The demonstration in Caesarea was attended by Knesset member Gilad Karib.

Demonstrators in Caesarea chanted against Netanyahu and the government, blaming them for the deaths of dozens of prisoners held in Gaza.

Former minister of war council Benny Gantz also participated in demonstrations in the settlement of Kiryat Gat in the Negev, demanding an exchange deal.

Gantz and another minister from his party, Gadi Eisenkot, announced on June 9 their resignation from the war council, which they joined on October 11.

They accused Netanyahu of preventing Israel from advancing toward what they called a real victory on the Gaza and northern fronts, and called for early parliamentary elections.