The first speaker to take the stage at the weekly Tel Aviv demonstration is Yael Engel Lichi, aunt of Ophir Engel, who was held hostage by Hamas for 54 days before being released during a temporary truce in late November.
Engel Lichi calls for immediate elections and blasts the government for refusing to take responsibility for the failures surrounding Hamas’s October 7 massacre in which her nephew was kidnapped.
Opher Havakuk, who served in Gaza as a reserve doctor during the war, speaks next. “As a doctor, I’m required to take responsibility for my actions and to be decisive,” he says. “I mention this because these qualities are missing from our government.”
IDF reserves doctor Ophir Havakuk speaks at an anti-government rally in Tel Aviv, March 23, 2024. (Iddo Schejter)
Ami Dror, a high-tech entrepreneur and one of the leaders of the “elections now” movement, speaks after Havakuk. “A people made up of heroes went to war with a government of cowards,” Dror says, as the crowd responds with cries of “elections now!” and “you’re in charge, you’re to blame!” about Netanyahu.
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From the Liveblog of
Saturday, March 23, 2024
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