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A major Israeli labor union called for a nationwide general strike on Monday after the bodies of six hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip were found.
“We are getting body bags instead of a deal,” said Arnon Bar-David, head of the Histadrut, which represents some 800,000 members.
The workers called for a one-day strike starting at 6 a.m. local time on Monday, adding that Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv would be closed from 8 a.m.
The intervention came just hours before thousands of protesters took to the streets of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, as pressure mounted on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reach a deal to return the remaining hostages.
In Jerusalem, protesters — some openly crying — gathered outside Netanyahu’s office. In Tel Aviv, some protesters chanted “now” — demanding an urgent deal to release the hostages.
The hostages' families called for a nationwide strike as part of efforts to reach a ceasefire agreement between the Netanyahu government and Hamas.
The Hostages Families Forum said all six prisoners “were killed in the past few days, after surviving nearly 11 months of abuse, torture and starvation in Hamas captivity.”
“The delay in signing the agreement led to their deaths and the deaths of many other hostages,” she said.
“We have to reach an agreement. An agreement is more important than anything else,” Mr. Bar-David said.
He added: “I call on the people of Israel to take to the streets tonight and tomorrow and for everyone to participate in the strike.”
Meanwhile, Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai announced that the city's municipal employees are free to join the strike on Monday “as a sign of solidarity with the kidnapped and their families.”
The prime minister said he was committed to securing a deal that would free the remaining captives and protect the country's security. But he said: “Anyone who kills hostages does not want a deal.”
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich was quick to condemn the general strike, claiming that it represented “Hamas interests.”
Hours after Mr. Bar-David's intervention, thousands of people began descending on Tel Aviv and Jerusalem to take part in a mass demonstration demanding a ceasefire.
Among them is 24-year-old Yotam Ber, whose 21-year-old brother was killed on October 7 in Hamas attacks.
“After we heard about the six hostages we could no longer remain silent. It is really important. We have no other choice,” he told the BBC.
“He's over the top.”
The Israeli Defense Forces said on Saturday that they found the bodies of six Palestinians inside an underground tunnel in the Rafah area in the southern Gaza Strip.
The IDF said they were Carmel Gat, Eden Yerushalmi, Hersh Goldberg Polin, Alexander Lobanov, Almog Sarousi and Sergeant Uri Danino.
It is not yet clear how many hostages remain in Gaza. Hamas kidnapped 251 people and killed 1,200 others during an attack in southern Israel on October 7, 2023.
Israel has launched a retaliatory military campaign against Hamas in Gaza. More than 40,530 people have been killed there since October 7, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in the territory.
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