A rare call for a general strike in Israel to protest the failure to return hostages held in Gaza led to shutdowns and other disruptions across the country on Monday, including at its main international airport.
Hundreds of thousands of Israelis have descended on the streets last Sunday in mourning and anger after six hostages were found dead in Gaza. Families and a large part of public opinion blamed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying they could have been brought back alives as part of an agreement with Hamas to end the ongoing war for almost 11 months.
But others support Mr Netanyahu’s strategy, which consists of maintaining relentless military pressure on Hamas, whose October 7 attack on Israel triggered the war.
They say this will eventually force the activists to give in to Israeli demands, which could facilitate rescue operations and, ultimately, annihilate the group.
A call for a general strike
Israel’s main trade union, the Histadrut, called for a general strike on Monday, the first since the war began. The aim is to shut down or disrupt major sectors of the economyincluding banks, healthcare and the country’s main airport.
Airlines from the main airport Israel’s Ben-Gurion International Airport suspended outgoing flights between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. These flights departed earlier or were slightly delayed, and Travellers queued at check-in counters despite limited disruptionArriving flights continued as usual during this period, according to the Israel Airports Authority.
The Histadrut stated that Banks, some major shopping malls and government offices joined the strike, as well as some public transport services, although there do not appear to be any major disruptions.
Municipalities in the populated central area of Israel, including Tel Avivtook part in the strike, which led to reduced school hours and cancellations in public daycare centers and kindergartens.
However, many municipalities, including Jerusalem, did not participate. Israeli media reported that The state had appealed to a labor court to cancel the strikebelieving that it was politically motivated.
Sunday’s protests appeared to be the most important since the beginning of the warwith organizers estimating that up to 500,000 people joined national events and the main rally held in Tel Aviv. Israeli media reports that 200,000 to 400,000 people took part.
Agreement to release hostages
They demand that Mr Netanyahu achieve aan agreement to return the hundred hostages still held in Gaza, a third of whom are believed to have died, even if it means leaving a battered Hamas intact and withdrawing from the territory. Many Israelis support this position, but others prioritize the destruction of the militant group rather than the freedom of the hostages.
Mr Netanyahu has promised a “total victory” over Hamas, which he holds responsible for the failure of the negotiationswhich dragged on for much of the year.
Israel has declared thatand the six hostages found dead in Gaza had been killed by Hamas shortly before the arrival of Israeli forces in the tunnel where they were being held. Three of them were due to be released under the first phase of a ceasefire proposal discussed in July.
The Israeli Health Ministry said autopsies determined that The hostages were shot at point-blank range and that they died on Thursday or Friday.
A first ceasefire
Some 250 hostages were captured on October 7. More than 100 were released during a ceasefire in November in exchange for the release of Palestinians imprisoned by Israell. Eight of them were rescued by Israeli forces. Israeli troops mistakenly killed three Israelis who escaped captivity in December.
Hamas militants killed some 1,200 peoplemostly civilians, when they stormed southern Israel on October 7. Israel’s retaliatory offensive in Gaza has killed more than 40,000 Palestiniansaccording to local health officials, who did not specify how many of them were activists.
ADVERTISEMENTMr Netanyahu has promised a “total victory” over Hamas, which he holds responsible for the failure of the negotiationswhich dragged on for much of the year.
Israel has declared that The six hostages found dead in Gaza were killed by Hamas shortly before Israeli forces entered the tunnel where they were being held. Three of them were due to be released under the first phase of a ceasefire proposal discussed in July.
The Israeli Health Ministry said autopsies determined that the hostages had were shot at point-blank range and that they died on Thursday or Friday.
Mr. Netanyahu blamed Hamasstating that “anyone who murders hostages does not want a deal.”
ADVERTISEMENTHamas blamed Israel and the United States for their deathsaccusing them of dragging out the talks by issuing new demands, including lasting Israeli control over two strategic corridors in Gaza.
Hamas offered to release hostages in exchange for an end to the war, the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces and the release of a large number of Palestinian prisonersincluding high-profile activists.
Hamas militants killed some 1,200 peoplemostly civilians, when they stormed southern Israel on October 7. Israel’s retaliatory offensive in Gaza killed more than 40,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials, who did not specify how many of them were activists.
