Israel on strike over hostage deaths, calls for ceasefire
Reuters quoted Israeli media as saying that at least half a million have taken to the streets in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv last night, while today, The New York Times reported disruptions to schools, banks, public transit, Haifa Port and Ben-Gurion International Airport...
Hundreds of thousands have gone on strike in Israel over its government’s handling of Israeli hostages held captive by Hamas in Gaza, according to media reports.
Reuters quoted Israeli media as saying that at least half a million have taken to the streets in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv last night, while today, The New York Times reported disruptions to schools, banks, public transit, Haifa Port and Ben-Gurion International Airport.
The labour union Histadrut had called for the general strike yesterday to pressure Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to strike a ceasefire deal with Hamas to bring back the remaining hostages held in Hamas’ captivity.
The call was made following the Israeli military’s announcement earlier that day that it had recovered the bodies of six hostages from a tunnel beneath Rafah, Gaza.
Israel claimed the hostages had been shot at close range by Hamas just days before Israeli soldiers could reach them.
Hamas, on the other hand, alleged they were shot by the Israeli military.
However, not everyone on the streets was there to heed Histadrut’s call.
The New York Times reported that several dozen right-wing activists and relatives of Israeli soldiers killed in combat rallied outside the prime minister’s office in Jerusalem to call for increased military pressure on Gaza “until victory”.
Stalemate
According to reports, ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas have reached a stalemate with both sides refusing further compromise.
Netanyahu had refused to agree to a truce that would involve an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza or a permanent halt to the fighting, claiming that either option would endanger Israel’s long-term security.
Hamas, on the other hand, said it would not release any more hostages without a permanent ceasefire.
The group had abducted 253 hostages and killed over 1,200 people during its raid on Israel on Oct 7, triggering Israeli reprisals in Gaza that have so far killed more than 40,600 Palestinians.
Over 100 hostages were released during a temporary ceasefire in November last year. A handful of others were since found dead and repatriated or rescued alive, while another three were shot by Israeli troops in December 2023 while waving a white flag.
The New York Times quoted the Israeli authorities saying there are more than 60 living hostages and the bodies of 35 others believed to be dead, are still in Gaza.
