On Friday, protesters fired flares in the air and demanded Netanyahu step down. Mounted police and trucks blocked their way. Demonstrators blame the prime minister for the security failures leading to the Hamas attack on Israeli communities on Oct. 7 — when authorities here say militants killed 1,200 people — as well his handling of the war in Gaza and the hostages since.

“Netanyahu has to leave or we’ll never get the hostages home,” said Karen Beltz, a Tel Aviv film producer. She said the protests were beginning to swell, but were still not as large or angry as the anti-government demonstrations that rocked Israel for months last year.

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    Now!” Demonstrators Thursday shut down a major road in downtown Tel Aviv; a group of hostage family members handcuffed themselves together and blocked the gates during a meeting of the war cabinet.

    Some have set off colored smoke bombs and carried posters depicting Netanyahu’s son Yair as a hostage with the legend: “How would it be different it was him?”

    Demonstrators blame the prime minister for the security failures leading to the Hamas attack on Israeli communities on Oct. 7 — when authorities here say militants killed 1,200 people — as well his handling of the war in Gaza and the hostages since.

    The prime minister said further talks were pointless until Hamas dropped “delusional demands” that Israel withdraw from Gaza and free thousands of detained Palestinians as part of any hostage deal.

    On Saturday, the leader of Israel’s largest and most influential trade union group called on Netanyahu to step down and face the voters.

    Anger against the prime minister is rising, but analysts say it’s unlikely to reach critical mass until the number of combat forces in Gaza comes down, tensions ease along the border with Lebanon and the hostages are freed.

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