They will not leave until the hostages held in Gaza are released and Netanyahu resigns. Dozens of Israelis take turns at a sit-in protest in front of the Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv following the October 7 attack on Israel.

The ongoing protest event takes place on Kaplan Avenue at the initiative of a group created to denounce the “Bibi fiasco” and to demand his resignation.

The sit-in is taking place at the site where tens of thousands of Israelis have demonstrated every Saturday since January for 39 weeks against the Netanyahu government’s anti-democratic judicial reform.

Throughout the day, from early morning until late at night, dozens of Israelis take turns to ensure a permanent presence, collecting signatures, handing out flyers and raising placards with slogans against the Israeli prime minister. Passing cars honk their horns in support.

Somewhere near them, a group of ultra-orthodox Jews is also holding a sit-in protestn, according to the tradition of Netanyahu’s supporters, who, since October 7, have also been calling for his resignation.

Those gathered speak of a “collective tragedy”, they say that Netanyahu has blood on his hands”, they ask that everything be done to achieve the release of the hostages. But then, Netanyahu has to go. “He should have done it already. Deserted, abandoned this country”.

“I cannot accept that the man who has three trials behind him is in charge of the country’s affairs. Our country has been hijacked by an illegal government,” says one of the gathered. “Once the war is over, we will take to the streets to demand Bibi’s resignation. They kidnapped our children and it’s his responsibility,” says another. “Criminals of the 2023 fiasco must be tried,” reads the poster next to it.