Israel’s main union has ordered a nationwide general strike after soldiers recovered the bodies of six killed hostages from the Gaza Strip where the military is battling Hamas, AFP reports.

On Sunday evening, tens of thousands of Israelis gathered in the streets of Tel Aviv and other cities to protest the government and call for a hostage release deal.

Campaign group the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said a negotiated “deal for the return of the hostages” was urgently needed.

“Were it not for the delays, sabotage and excuses” in months of mediation efforts, the six hostages “would likely still be alive”, a statement said.

The families called for a nationwide general strike to force the government to reach a deal. Shortly afterwards, the head of Israel’s powerful Histadrut trade union ordered a “complete strike” on Monday in support of the hostages.

“I have come to the conclusion that only our intervention can shake those who need to be shaken,” Histadrut chair Arnon Bar-David said in a statement. “A deal is not progressing due to political considerations and this is unacceptable.”

 Israeli Police officers detain protesters during clashes following an anti-government rally calling for the release of Israelis held hostage by Hamas in Gaza since October, in Tel Aviv on Sept 1, 2024. — AFP
Israeli Police officers detain protesters during clashes following an anti-government rally calling for the release of Israelis held hostage by Hamas in Gaza since October, in Tel Aviv on Sept 1, 2024. — AFP

Opinion

Editorial

Ultimate price
Updated 02 Nov, 2024

Ultimate price

To dismantle culture of impunity for crimes against journalists, state must ensure that perpetrators do not go unpunished.
Mastung bombing
02 Nov, 2024

Mastung bombing

INSTABILITY continues to haunt Balochistan, as Friday morning’s bombing in Mastung has shown. At least nine...
Plane speak
02 Nov, 2024

Plane speak

DESPITE all its efforts to facilitate PIA’s privatisation, it seems the government only ended up being taken for a...
Seeking investment
Updated 01 Nov, 2024

Seeking investment

Foreign visits will be fruitless unless crucial structural, policy reforms directly affecting investors are focused.
State-backed terror
01 Nov, 2024

State-backed terror

OVER the past year or so, India’s reportedly malign activities in foreign countries have increasingly come under the radar, with
Shared crisis
01 Nov, 2024

Shared crisis

WITH Lahore experiencing unprecedented levels of smog, the Punjab government has announced a series of “green...