Thousands protest in Tel Aviv against Netanyahu ahead of Israeli elections

Thousands of people gathered in Tel Aviv for a major anti-government protest three days before Israel's general elections. The demonstration was organized by the "October Council," a group founded by families of victims and hostages taken by Palestinian militants on October 7, 2023. The protest follows years of mobilization by Israeli civil society and opposition parties demanding an independent state commission of inquiry into security failures leading to the October 7 events. Netanyahu's government opposes such a body, instead proposing a "political" commission with half its members appointed by the ruling coalition, which opposition leaders say they would boycott. Pre-election polls show a very tight race between Netanyahu's bloc, in power since late 2022, and that of main rival Gadi Eisenkot, with neither side appearing able to secure a parliamentary majority.