Israel in political storm as Gaza war resumes

Israel has found itself in a political upheaval in the midst of a reignited Gaza war after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's controversial decisions have triggered some of the biggest protests in the country.

Late on the evening of Saturday, hundreds of thousands of Israelis – from the bustling streets of Tel Aviv to the ancient avenues of Jerusalem – took to the sidewalks in protest. Their unified outcry was sparked by Netanyahu's decision to dismiss Ronen Bar, the head of the Shin Bet, amid allegations that the domestic intelligence chief was probing corrupt financial ties involving top aides and the Qatari government.

Critics argue that the move is not a measure to enhance national security, as Netanyahu claims, but rather an attempt to silence investigations that threaten to expose deep-rooted corruption within his administration.

Bar's dismissal, defended by Netanyahu as a necessary step to "restore trust" within the state's security apparatus, has instead inflamed public anger. In a defiant letter, Bar accused the government of providing no concrete evidence for his removal and warned that such an action would cripple the Shin Bet's ability to function effectively at a time when its work is more critical than ever. He argued that the timing of his ouster was designed to derail the ongoing probe which seeks to uncover illicit financial arrangements that may have compromised national security.

The decision to dismiss him, however, has been halted by the supreme court, which says it needs to first hear petitions filed by the opposition. Disputing the court order, Netanyahu said the government gets to decide who will be the head of the Shin Bet.

Bar's supporters, along with numerous opposition figures, contend that dismissing him is a direct attack on the democratic process, as it undermines one of the country's few checks on executive power.

This internal power struggle is the latest chapter in a long-standing ideological battle in Israel. For years, the country has been locked in a tug-of-war between right-wing forces that favor a more politically driven judiciary and those who believe in the absolute independence of legal institutions as the bulwark of democracy. The Israeli left has long accused the Netanyahu government of attempting to overhaul the judiciary, a body the prime minister and his allies say has been dominated by left-wing elites since the country's foundation.

A recent cabinet vote to initiate a no-confidence motion against Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara has also deepened the divide. Baharav-Miara, who has consistently challenged government decisions she deems illegal, now faces an impeachment process spearheaded by Justice Minister Yariv Levin. Opposition leaders, including former Prime Minister Yair Lapid, have warned that if Netanyahu persists in his efforts to neutralize dissenting voices within state institutions, the country could face unprecedented civil disobedience – a general strike that could bring daily life to a halt.

Adding fuel to the fire, renewed military operations in Gaza have intensified the nation's collective anxiety. After a two-month ceasefire collapsed, Israeli airstrikes resumed with brutal force, leaving a trail of civilian casualties and further galvanizing the protesters. Families of hostages still held in Gaza joined the demonstrations, their anguish and frustration echoing through chants for an immediate ceasefire and a fair hostage exchange.

The intertwinement between anti-war activists and those protesting recent government decisions has captured the sentiment of a populace torn between the desperate need for peace and the growing fear that internal divisions are weakening the nation from within.

A recent poll by Israeli TV Channel 12 revealed that 63 percent of Israelis now fear for the future of the country's democracy. Even among those who voted for Netanyahu's right-wing coalition, 37 percent said they are concerned about where Israel's democratic institutions are headed.

As the country teeters on the edge of what some critics warn could be a constitutional crisis, the supreme court is set to rule on both Bar's dismissal and the impeachment motion against Baharav-Miara. These legal battles are likely to define Israel's political landscape for years to come, determining whether the nation will continue on its current path or reassert the checks and balances that the Israeli left has been defending.