Why is Israel's anti-government protest movement struggling to gain steam?

JERUSALEM — Nine months after Hamas' Oct.7 attack in southern Israel, and despite 120 Israelis still held hostage in Gaza, the anti-government protest movement has failed to pressure Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu into reaching a deal with the Gaza-based militant group or to pressure him, or any other cabinet minister, into resigning.

Hundreds of thousands of people have joined the families of the hostages in rallies calling for a deal to bring the abductees home, but demonstrations calling for a deal while also demanding the resignation of the government have struggled to mobilize participation. 

That much was evident on July 7. Marking nine months since the Hamas massacre, anti-government protest leaders declared a “day of disruptions” in the form of protests and strikes demanding Netanyahu's resignation and new elections. Thousands of people blocked roads and demonstrated outside ministers' homes, but the mobilization was a far-cry from the general strike paralyzing the country that organizers had hoped for and promised. 

Several high-tech companies gave their employees the day off to take part in the nationwide activities, and an aggressive campaign accusing Netanyahu of failing to bring the hostages home was supposed to motivate the masses. “Netanyahu is finishing off the hostages” was among the signs held at demonstrations. Former Prime Minister Ehud Barak called for 1 million Israelis to lay siege to Israel’s Knesset in Jerusalem. That did not happen.