Clashes occurred between protesters and security forces on Sunday night during one of the largest anti-government demonstrations since the Gaza conflict began nearly 11 months ago. Protesters urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to agree to a ceasefire with Hamas to secure the release of the remaining captives, chanting "Now! Now!"
Protests took place across the country, with roads blocked in Tel Aviv and demonstrations outside Netanyahu's office in West Jerusalem.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, representing the families of captives in Gaza, blamed Netanyahu for the deaths, claiming they resulted from his failure to negotiate a ceasefire. The forum stated that the six hostages were murdered after enduring almost 11 months of abuse and starvation in Hamas captivity.
Gil Dickmann, a relative of one of the deceased captives, called on Israelis to intensify pressure on the government, urging them to "shut down the country until everyone returns."
Gideon Levy, a columnist for Israel's Haaretz newspaper, told Al Jazeera that Netanyahu has been defending the right-wing factions within his government, who are against making concessions to Hamas and show little concern for the hostages. Levy emphasized Netanyahu's strong influence within his Likud Party, which supports his stance.
In a significant move, the Histadrut, Israel's largest trade union federation, called for a general strike to pressure the government into agreeing to a ceasefire. The union announced that Ben Gurion Airport would close on Monday morning, and it aims to disrupt major sectors of the economy, including banking and healthcare.
Histadrut chief Arnon Bar-David stressed the urgency of reaching a deal, lamenting that Israel is receiving "body bags instead of a deal." The union's strike is supported by leading manufacturers and high-tech entrepreneurs, reflecting widespread public anger over the deaths of the captives.
Tel Aviv's municipal services will also be shut down for part of Monday in solidarity with the strike.
The Manufacturers Association of Israel endorsed the strike, accusing the government of failing in its moral duty to bring the captives back alive. Association head Ron Tomer warned that without the return of the hostages, Israel cannot end the war, rebuild society, or begin to recover its economy.
Israeli opposition leader and former Prime Minister Yair Lapid backed the strike, but Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich opposed it, asking the Attorney General to block the action. Smotrich argued that the strike lacked legal grounds and could cause unnecessary economic damage during wartime.
Negotiations between Israel and Hamas have stalled for months, with Netanyahu facing criticism for the lack of progress. The Israeli military has acknowledged the difficulty of rescuing the remaining captives and stated that a negotiated deal is the only way to secure their return.
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