A nationwide general strike has been called by the Histadrut labour union, representing 800,000 members, after the bodies of six hostages held by Hamas in Gaza were recovered.
The strike, scheduled for Monday, is a response to the government’s failure to secure a deal to return the remaining hostages.
Arnon Bar-David, chairman of the Histadrut, expressed his outrage, saying, “We are getting body bags instead of a deal.” He called on workers to stage a one-day walkout, starting at 06:00 local time, and announced that Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport will be closed from 08:00.
The strike is a show of solidarity with the families of the hostages, who have been pushing for a nationwide strike to pressure the government to reach a ceasefire agreement with Hamas.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has committed to securing a deal that releases the remaining captives and protects the country’s security, but families are frustrated with the delay.
The Hostages Families Forum stated that the six hostages were “murdered in the last few days, after surviving almost 11 months of abuse, torture, and starvation in Hamas captivity.”
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They blamed the government’s delay in signing a deal for the deaths.
As the strike approaches, thousands of protesters took to the streets of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, demanding a ceasefire and the return of the remaining hostages.
Yotam Peer, whose younger brother was killed on 7 October, joined the demonstration, saying, “After we heard about the six hostages, we couldn’t be silent anymore. It’s really important. We don’t have a choice anymore.”
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) located the six bodies in an underground tunnel in southern Gaza, but it’s unclear how many hostages remain.
The tragedy has sparked widespread outrage and solidarity, with Tel Aviv’s Mayor Ron Huldai announcing that municipal workers are free to join the strike.
As the nation mourns, the pressure is on the government to act. Will the strike and protests be enough to secure a deal and bring the remaining hostages home?”
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