Israel has banned large gatherings as thousands of people are expected to turn out across the country to commemorate the Oct 7 massacre.

The IDF Home Command Front has limited gatherings in Israel to 2,000 people, citing the ongoing threat of rockets from Hezbollah as the reason.

However, anti-government campaigners, who had organised a 40,000-strong march on Monday, the first anniversary of Oct 7, claim the ban is a political ploy by Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to quash dissent.

Israel has in recent months been rocked by protests seeking to pressure the government to negotiate a ceasefire deal with Hamas in return for the release of the 101 hostages still held in Gaza. The demonstrations have had little effect on the government’s prosecution of the war, which is ongoing.