On Monday, municipal services in various Israeli districts faced disruptions as the nation's largest labor union initiated a general strike to compel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to agree to a deal for the return of Israeli hostages held in Gaza. The strike was called by the head of the Histadrut union, which represents hundreds of thousands of workers across the economy, following the discovery of the bodies of six hostages in a tunnel in southern Gaza. The shocking return of these hostages, who were reportedly shot between 48-72 hours before being found, led to widespread protests in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, with at least half a million people taking to the streets.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich attempted to dismiss the strike through Israel's Labour Court, which was scheduled to convene mid-morning. However, the strike affected numerous sectors, supported by many employer groups including manufacturers and the high-tech sector. Services at Ben Gurion Airport, Israel's primary air transport hub, were partially suspended, though incoming flights continued. Bus and light rail services in many areas were either canceled or operating at reduced capacity. Workers at Israel's main commercial port in Haifa also joined the strike, leading to partial operations in hospitals and complete closures of banks, although many private sector businesses remained open.
These strikes come after months of protests by families of some of the hostages, highlighting the deep divisions within Israel over Netanyahu's strategy for securing a ceasefire deal. Despite pressure from his defense minister, senior generals, and intelligence officials, Netanyahu has insisted on maintaining Israeli troops in key points of the Gaza Strip post-ceasefire. Hamas has vehemently rejected any Israeli presence, and despite efforts by Egyptian and Qatari diplomats and repeated visits by senior US officials, there has been no indication of progress in negotiations to end the conflict and secure the hostages' release. Hamas still holds 101 of the 253 hostages taken last October, actions that led to the killing of 1,200 Israelis and foreigners and triggered an Israeli assault that has devastated Gaza, resulting in the deaths of over 40,600 Palestinians.
