JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Hundreds of protesters gathered outside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's residence in Jerusalem on Saturday, expressing their anger over the failures that led to last month's deadly attack by Hamas gunmen on communities around the Gaza Strip.

Amid waving blue and white Israeli flags and chanting "Jail now!", the crowd pushed through police barriers to demonstrate their dissatisfaction with the political and security leadership. Their protest coincided with a recent poll showing that over three-quarters of Israelis believe Netanyahu should step down, highlighting the growing public fury towards their leaders.

Netanyahu has thus far refused to accept personal responsibility for the failures that allowed the surprise assault, in which hundreds of Hamas gunmen infiltrated southern Israel on October 7th. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of over 1,400 lives and the abduction of at least 240 individuals.

As the initial shock of the attack has faded, public anger has intensified. Families of the hostages held in Gaza have become increasingly critical of the government's response and are calling for their immediate return.

In Tel Aviv, thousands of demonstrators gathered, brandishing flags, photographs of the captives, and posters bearing slogans such as "Release the hostages now at all costs." The crowd passionately chanted, "Bring them home now," demanding action.

Since the attack, Israel has launched a relentless air and ground offensive in Gaza, resulting in the deaths of more than 9,000 people, according to health authorities in the Hamas-run territory. Large parts of the enclave have been reduced to rubble.

Even prior to the war, Netanyahu had been a divisive figure, facing corruption charges that he vehemently denies. His push to curtail the powers of the judiciary sparked massive protests, with hundreds of thousands taking to the streets.

A recent poll conducted by Israel's Channel 13 Television revealed that 76% of Israelis believe Netanyahu should resign from his record-breaking sixth term as prime minister. Additionally, 64% of respondents believe that an election should take place immediately after the ongoing conflict.

When asked about the responsibility for the attack, 44% of Israelis attributed blame to Netanyahu, while 33% held the military chief of staff and senior IDF officials responsible. Only 5% placed blame on the Defense Minister, as per the poll results.

As the protests continue to intensify and the demands for accountability grow louder, all eyes are on Prime Minister Netanyahu and his response to the mounting pressure.