Netanyahu Vows to Press On With Iran Strikes as Israelis Pour Into Streets Chanting ‘Stop the War

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Tel Aviv / Ankara —
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared he will continue military operations against Iran and its regional allies, brushing aside mounting pressure from both within Israel and across the international community. In the same statement, Netanyahu accused Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of facilitating Iran’s military activities — a claim Ankara swiftly and forcefully rejected.
The announcement triggered large-scale protests across Israel. Thousands of demonstrators flooded the streets of Tel Aviv, holding placards reading “Stop the War” and “End the Massacre of Humanity,” demanding an immediate ceasefire.
Former Israeli Deputy Chief of Staff General Yair Golan sharpened his criticism of the government, stating that Netanyahu is operating under intense pressure because he knows the war’s stated objectives have not been achieved. In a pointed remark, Golan said: “A true victor does not need to repeatedly announce his victory. Netanyahu and his government should go home.”
Turkey’s response was swift and cutting. Fahrettin Altun, head of communications at the Turkish Presidential Directorate, labeled Netanyahu “a criminal wanted under an international arrest warrant,” accusing him of dragging the region into conflict purely to ensure his own political survival. Altun stated that Netanyahu bears direct responsibility for genocide in Gaza and has forfeited any moral or legal standing to lecture others, adding that the international community will ultimately hold him accountable for crimes against humanity.
Netanyahu currently faces simultaneous pressure on multiple fronts: ongoing proceedings at the International Court of Justice, deepening diplomatic isolation, and unprecedented domestic dissent. The statements of April 12, 2026 have pushed regional tensions to a new peak, raising serious questions about the trajectory of the broader Middle East conflict.