Tens of thousands of anti-government protesters demonstrated in Tel Aviv on Saturday, demanding that the government proceed with an agreement to release hostages held by Hamas in Gaza since October 7, dismiss Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and conduct early elections.

Participants in Saturday's demonstration said it was the largest since the massacre committed by Hamas on October 7, with protest organizers estimating that about 120,000 demonstrators participated in the Tel Aviv rally.

Similar demonstrations were organized in various locations across the country.

In Democracy Square, after the official gathering had ended, protesters continued to chant for the release of the hostages. Some activists set fire to the square, and videos posted on social media showed clashes between the police and the protesters.

According to the Haaretz daily, two protesters were arrested, and the police used a sound cannon to disperse the demonstrators.

Walla news reported that the police brought a water cannon to the event, but it was not used.

The site also reported that 14 police officers, including Commissioner Avi Ohion, the Deputy Commander of Tel Aviv's police, were injured during clashes with the demonstrators. Ohion sustained injuries that required medical treatment.

Protests at the intersection of Begin and Kaplan streets, known as Democracy Square, have been organized every Saturday night since the start of the anti-judicial reform movement in January of last year, except for a break of a few months following Hamas's attack on October 7.

One video posted on social media showed Knesset member Gilad Kariv from the Labor Party, who has frequently participated in anti-government protests, in a heated argument with Supervisor Ohion.

The first speaker at the demonstration was Shaul Meridor, former head of the budget division at the Ministry of Finance, who appeared before the public in 2020 after resigning in protest of the actions of then-Minister of Finance Israel Katz regarding the budget.

Meridor said, "Just one step away from a victory that will never come, we are surrounded by enemies, and the whole world is against us," referring to Netanyahu's repeated claims throughout the war that Israel is close to achieving its goals.

"Last night, we received a reminder of what a true leader looks like, one who cares about Israel's future and not his own. Thank you, President Biden," referring to the U.S. president's speech on Friday outlining Israel's proposal for an agreement leading to a ceasefire and the release of hostages, urging the Israeli government to stand behind it and calling on Hamas to accept it.

Gal Beitshovich, an activist residing in the so-called Gaza Envelope, also referred to Biden's speech, stating, "Last night, in an extraordinary speech, the American president spoke to us, the Israelis. The American president asked us to wake up. The leader of the free world said our government must stop wasting time."

"Will we allow Netanyahu and [National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir] and [National Security Council Chairman Tzachi Hanegbi] to continue to waste time and abandon the hostages in Gaza, or will we teach them that it's over and they are finished? Bring them all home now."

Protest leader and businessman Moshe Reitman stated that the anti-government movement will escalate its tactics starting June 16 to expedite the government's dismissal: "All protest organizations, along with civil organizations and additional companies, will begin a continuous daily protest in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Caesarea, and other places." He added that "the protest will include massive daily demonstrations, disruption of government activities, strikes, and much more."

After the official part of the demonstration ended, the protesters joined families of some of the hostages in a nearby demonstration on Begin Street.

Ineff Zangoker, whose son Matan Zangoker (24) is held in Gaza, said, "This is not just a struggle for the hostages; it is a struggle for the homeland, a struggle for renewing the contract between the government and the citizens, a struggle for the north and south and security and the economy and peace there. "Today may be the day that Netanyahu and the extremists leave our lives."

The war in Gaza erupted after the massacre committed by Hamas on October 7, which saw around 3,000 fighters rush across the border into Israel by land, air, and sea, resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths and the abduction of 252 hostages, mostly civilians, amid acts of brutality and sexual assaults.

It is believed that 121 hostages kidnapped by Hamas on October 7 are still in Gaza – not all are alive – after 105 civilians were released from Hamas captivity during a week-long ceasefire in late November, and four hostages were released before that. Forces rescued three hostages alive, and the bodies of 19 hostages were retrieved, including three who were accidentally killed by the army.

The Israeli army confirmed the deaths of 37 of those still held by Hamas, citing new intelligence information and findings obtained by the forces operating in Gaza.

Another person has been missing since October 7, and their fate remains unknown.

Hamas is also holding the bodies of Israeli soldiers Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin since 2014, along with two Israeli civilians, Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed, who are believed to be alive after entering the Gaza Strip voluntarily in 2014 and 2015, respectively.