Assailants yell ‘King Bibi,’ attack protesters demanding hostage deal in Rehovot

Footage shows two assailants physically attacking protesters demanding a hostage deal in the central city of Rehovot this evening.

The attackers yell, “King Bibi,” referring to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, while another rips an Israeli flag carried by one of the protesters.

Police say in a statement that they are questioning suspects over the incident and will decide at the end of the probe if an extension of their custody is necessary.

Opposition Leader Yair Lapid says the attack is the result of the “violent poison machine leading the government.”

“We won’t stop and won’t abandon the hostages until everyone returns home,” he writes on X.

The “poison machine” is the name some avowed critics of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu use for what they say is a network of pundits, journalists, influencers, and activists dedicated to besmirching the premier’s political rivals.

ההתקפות האלימות נגד ציבור שרק קורא להחזרת חטופים הן תוצר ההסתה של מכונת רעל אלימה שמובילה הממשלה. לא נעצור ולא ננטוש את החטופים עד שכולם יחזרו הביתה pic.twitter.com/I3b84wx7Lc

— יאיר לפיד – Yair Lapid (@yairlapid) May 17, 2025