Thousands rally in Tel Aviv against Netanyahu ahead of vote

For two years they came to Hostage Square in Tel Aviv each week to demand their government do more to get their loved ones and friends home from captivity in Gaza.

Last night they came in their tens of thousands to demand an independent state commission of inquiry into how the greatest security breach in Israel's history, and as a result the greatest mass slaughter, had been able to occur in the first place.

Three days before an election regarded as the most pivotal in the country's history, those attending the rally were clear that there needed to be a change of government, not just to get their long-demanded inquiry but because they say Israel's democracy is under threat.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has flatly refused to have an independent investigation into the events of October 7, 2023, after thousands of Hamas fighters surged across the border from Gaza.

Leaders of opposition parties have pledged an inquiry.

Among those leaders who attended the rally were the main rival to Mr Netanyahu, Gadi Eisenkot, as well as Avigdor Liberman, Yair Lapid, Yisrael Beiteinu and Yair Golan.

Mali Zender not only lost her daughter Noa on October 7, but as a head nurse at Sheba Hospital treated those hostages who did return from the tunnels of Gaza.

"Not everyone has taken responsibility and we do not have answers," she said.

"A country cannot move forward without soul-searching. Leaders cannot demand our faith without taking responsibility.

"Do not give up on the truth, and do not give up on our future."

Rabbi Elchanan Danino, whose son Uri was abducted and murdered in Hamas captivity, said an inquiry "will not bring our sons and daughters home, but it is necessary for the futures of our sons and daughters … and for the soldiers who are risking their lives for our existence here."

Repeated cries of "shame" echoed through the sweltering Tel Aviv crowd.

But it is not just the cause of getting an inquiry being demanded by many speakers who addressed the rally and many of those attending.

Members of the crowd who spoke to the ABC repeatedly spoke of how they believe Israel's longest-serving prime minister represents a threat to Israel's democracy, to say there must be a change of government when the election for the Israeli parliament occurs on Tuesday.

"Our democracy is torn down and it's ridiculous that the government that is responsible for this horrible war and for letting us down so many months before is still there," Aviva Mimouni Bloch told the ABC.

Her husband Yuval said: "Probably our greatest war now is against what is happening in our country, where people who are corrupt, incapable, cynical don't take any responsibility for what is going on."

Orr Rachlevsky said that "we've been fighting against the policies of this government who brought Israel into the worst place ever, experiencing the worst massacre of the Jewish people".

"And this is the last week that we have, the last opportunity that we have to save our beloved country as our parents and grandparents built, to be a beacon of hope and justice and love of people and human beings. And we will make this place a better place."

Asked if he was worried what would happen on Tuesday if the current government is returned to office, he said: "This will be the end of the Jewish country. It might take a day or two days or a week or a year, but this will be the end.

"It means that the country that my grandparents built is poisoned and beyond any repair. But I don't believe this will happen."

Ophir Baer said: "We have to make a change."

Ophir and his wife had regularly come to rallies at the square, driving one and a half hours each time.

"We did it for many, many months every Saturday, and today it was clear that this is like three days before our big, big chance to make a difference and to actually make a change. So that's what we're doing.

"If this criminal government, and it is the criminal government, if it would be up to me, I would put all 64 or later 68 Knesset members into jail because all of them are responsible for the people who died, for the people who were murdered, for the people who didn't come back alive when they could have rescued them a year earlier, at least.

"So I think we need a change after those years, after the failure of October 7."

Teenagers Tomer Nahir and Zoya Malka are too young to vote on Tuesday but believe Israel needs a change.

"We need to get rid of the corruption that's going around in the government," Tomer said.

"I'm going to cry if Bibi will be chosen again, because I really hate what he's doing to our country and what is happening, and that's why I'm also here today," Zoya said.

Tomar said he was worried the country would be much more divided if Mr Netanyahu was returned to government, and this would cause a lot of tension between groups in the community

Almost all others in positions of authority in the lead up to October 7 have lost their jobs or left, except the prime minister.

Many Israelis hold him culpable. He has said the only problem on October 7 was that no-one had woken him up when the attack started at 6:29am that day.

News stories have repeatedly documented instances where Mr Netanyahu was personally told of a looming threat from Hamas, threats he both ignored and did not pass on.

His long hold on power is also under threat because of a series of corruption charges, and because he attempted to circumscribe the powers of the Supreme Court, which many Israelis believe would have given the government untrammelled power.