Thousands gather in Tel Aviv to demand probe before Tuesday vote

For three days before the general election, families of hostages and opposition leaders converged on Tel Aviv to demand an answer about the security failures of 2023. The gathering took place in the public plaza known as Hostages Square.

The event was organized by the October Council, a group formed by relatives of people taken to Gaza during the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. The council is seeking a state commission of inquiry to investigate why the government did not prevent the assault. They describe this rally as the culminating event of their three-year effort to uncover the truth.

Leading political figures joined the crowds. Gadi Eisenkot, a candidate for the Yashar party and a main rival to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, addressed the demonstrators. Chants in the square asked, "Who's coming? The next prime minister." Yair Golan, the leader of the Democrats, also attended the rally. Lawyer Dan Adin posted on social media about the large crowds flowing from Rabin Square to Hostages Square, calling the energy "ours completely."

Protests occurred in other parts of Israel as well, according to the Haaretz newspaper. Before the main event, the October Council warned police about potential disruptions. They sent an urgent letter to the Police Commissioner regarding alerts that groups linked to the ruling coalition might try to disrupt the rally.

Polls indicate a close race for Tuesday's election. Netanyahu's right-wing bloc, which has governed since late 2022, is tied with Eisenkot's camp. Neither group is projected to win a majority in the Knesset. The outcome may influence whether Israel resumes military strikes on Iran, a step Eisenkot is reportedly less likely to take if he becomes prime minister.

Netanyahu's government has rejected calls for an independent inquiry. They proposed a political commission where the government would appoint half the members and the opposition would appoint the rest. Opposition leaders said they would boycott that structure. The vote will determine which party controls the government after a war that began three years ago.