ventricular tachycardiaA major Israeli union has called for a nationwide general strike on Monday after the bodies of six hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip were discovered.
Arnon Bar-David, president of the Histadrut trade union, which represents about 800,000 members, said: “We are getting body bags instead of a deal.”
He called on workers to hold a one-day strike starting at 06:00 local time on Monday, adding that Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport would be closed from 08:00.
The intervention came just hours after thousands of protesters took to the streets in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faced pressure to reach a deal to return the remaining hostages.
ReutersIn Jerusalem, demonstrators gathered outside Mr Netanyahu’s office, some openly weeping. In Tel Aviv, some protesters shouted “now” – demanding an urgent hostage deal.
Families of the hostages have been pushing for a nationwide strike as part of efforts to reach a ceasefire between Netanyahu’s government and Hamas.
The Hostage Families Forum said all six captives “were murdered in the past few days after suffering nearly 11 months of ill-treatment, torture and starvation in Hamas captivity”.
“The delay in signing the agreement has resulted in their death and that of many other hostages,” the statement said.
“We have to reach a deal. It’s more important than anything else to reach a deal,” Bar-David said.
“I call on the people of Israel to take to the streets tonight and tomorrow and for everyone to join the strike,” he added.
Meanwhile, Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai announced that the city’s municipal workers are free to participate in Monday’s strike “as a show of solidarity with the abductees and their families”.
The prime minister said he was committed to a deal that would free the remaining captives and protect national security. But he said: “Whoever murdered the hostages did not want to make a deal.”
Finance Minister Bezarel Smotrich was quick to condemn the general strike, claiming that it represented “the interests of Hamas”.
Hours after Mr. Bardevi intervened, thousands of people began flocking to Tel Aviv and Jerusalem to take part in massive demonstrations calling for a ceasefire.
Among them was 24-year-old Yotam Peer, whose 21-year-old brother was killed in a Hamas attack on October 7.
He told the BBC: “After we heard the news about the six hostages, we can no longer remain silent. This is really important. We no longer have a choice.”
“It’s beyond the limit.”
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said six bodies were found in an underground tunnel in the Rafah area of southern Gaza on Saturday.
The IDF said they are Carmel Gait, Eden Yerushami, Hersh Goldberg-Poulin, Alexander Lobanov, Almog Salusi and Ori Dani Sergeant No.
It is unclear how many hostages remain in Gaza. On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched an attack in southern Israel, kidnapping 251 people and killing 1,200 others.
Israel launched retaliatory military operations against Hamas in Gaza. More than 40,530 people have been killed since October 7, according to the region’s Hamas health ministry.
