Gaza war: Israelis strike to demand Netanyahu agrees to a ceasefire and hostage release
The Israeli government faces mounting pressure to end the war in Gaza, but Netanyahu remains defiant, citing concerns about Hamas rearmament
Israeli protesters took to the streets for a second day on Monday and the largest trade union launched a general strike to press the government to reach a deal to return hostages still held by Hamas, after six more captives were found dead in Gaza.
The strike disrupted transport and medical services in several Israeli districts and many shops and businesses were closed after the head of the Histadrut union, which represents hundreds of thousands of workers, called for a general stoppage.
The recovery of the six hostages, who were shot dead between 48–72 hours before being found by Israeli forces, according to the health ministry, triggered a wave of grief and fury in Israel, prompting at least half a million people to take to the streets in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv on Sunday.
The demonstrators are demanding Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reach a ceasefire agreement with Palestinian militant group Hamas to bring the remaining hostages home.
Critics accuse Netanyahu of prolonging the conflict – thereby reducing the chances of early elections that polling suggests he would lose – rather than prioritising the safe return of the roughly 100 remaining hostages still held in Gaza. Hostilities have spread to the West Bank, another Palestinian territory, and to neighbouring Lebanon, threatening to engulf the region in a wider war.
Netanyahu has defended his stance on a ceasefire as necessary to ensure Hamas isn’t able to rearm, and has been steadfast in his ultimate aim of destroying the Iran-backed group. Should Hamas endure, government officials have warned, Israel’s enemies would be emboldened and more hostage-taking could take place in the future.
