Inside Israel, dozens of people are awake at all hours, insisting on being heard. They push forward with relentless energy, sketching new ways to tell their story and keep it in the public eye. Sleep is a luxury they cannot spare, as they imagine where their loved ones will rest each night. Since October 7, the country has been shaped by the harsh reality that 240 Israeli citizens were seized by Hamas. Families have become the living voice for those taken, reminding governments that life has resumed for many, yet some households remain missing their members. The relatives refuse to stay quiet until every person is back in their own bed. They completed a difficult five-day march this Saturday, stopping at the door of the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. The weight of politicians’ silence has pushed them to raise their voices louder.
There is a sense that the government has not matched the urgency on the ground. A participant from the north of Israel explains the frustration of many who condemn the media for not giving the issue the visibility it deserves. In the crowd, relatives who have stood beside the families for weeks address the supporters who have joined them along the way. One speaker, Orin, the mother of Eden Zacharia, describes the toll of the journey: exhausted legs and shoulders, persistent pain, but a heart that refuses to give in. The communication is clear: if necessary, the march will continue toward Gaza to demand accountability and the safe return of every captive. After the show of solidarity, a delegation from the government agreed to a meeting with war cabinet members, now scheduled for Monday.
Only 4% trust
A song blares from the loudspeakers as the crowd belts along to Skylar Grey’s Coming Home. These ordinary Israelis, backed by thousands of supporters nationwide, have become a steady force against a leadership seen by many as not vocal enough about the hostages’ plight. Yael Bardi, who walked from Tel Aviv with the families, carries a portrait of Margalit Berta Mozes, a 77-year-old hostage abducted on October 7. Although Bardi participates in protests over judicial reforms, he emphasizes that the march is not merely a political maneuver against Netanyahu. Beyond the human demand for the captives, many participants voice a longing for a government that earns public trust and maintains resolve in the face of a prolonged conflict.
“He must step aside and a new government should lead,” declares a Tel Aviv resident named Ibrahim, who emphasizes Sephardic roots in his message. Netanyahu’s credibility with the Israeli public has received a sharp blow since the October events. A Bar Ilan University poll indicates that trust in the prime minister among Jewish Israelis has sunk to a historical low. The information environment remains dominated by coverage on the war against Hamas, which has devastated Gaza and taken lives on both sides. Before the escalation, the prime minister’s political standing had already been strained by debates over judicial reforms.
“Cockroach”
Danielle confronts the prime minister’s office with a strong rebuke, speaking in a fluent Spanish with a Latin American accent. She questions the government’s priorities, arguing that money is diverted while action moves slowly. The crowd resonates with her message that the leadership should focus on the people and their immediate needs rather than personal protection or religious funding aimed at political survival. The public conversation has shifted notably since a pro-Netanyahu newspaper opened space for a critical stance and even called for the leader’s resignation in a publication with a political lineage aimed at supporting his agenda.
“The question isn’t whether the war should continue, but whether promised accountability will come quickly enough,” Danielle adds. A Channel 12 survey published this week aligns with the sense that the administration’s grip on public sentiment is weakening. If elections were held today, the coalition would drop from its current size, signaling a potential realignment in governing power. Some participants express a guarded hope that a transition away from the current leadership could yield a governance approach more attuned to popular concerns, even if the outcome remains uncertain. Danielle herself notes that many supporters will still back Netanyahu for his rhetorical skills, even as they question his management effectiveness.