On Sunday, Israel’s largest union, Histadrut, declared a nationwide general strike in response to the recovery of the bodies of six hostages from the Gaza Strip. The hostages, killed during the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian militants, were found in an underground tunnel in southern Gaza’s Rafah area.
The hostages were part of the 251 individuals captured during Hamas’s attack on October 7, which triggered the current war. Of these, 97 remain in captivity, including 33 who are reported dead. The recovery of the six hostages has spurred widespread protests, with tens of thousands of Israelis gathering in Tel Aviv and other cities to demand the release of remaining hostages and a resolution to the crisis.
The families of the hostages, represented by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, have criticized the delay in negotiations and called for immediate action to secure a deal for the remaining captives. They allege that the six hostages might have survived if not for delays and obstacles in mediation efforts.
Histadrut chair Arnon Bar-David announced the strike, stating, “A deal is not progressing due to political considerations and this is unacceptable.” The strike aims to pressure the government into reaching a resolution.
The six hostages—Carmel Gat, Eden Yerushalmi, Almog Sarusi, Ori Danino, US-Israeli Hersh Goldberg-Polin, and Russian-Israeli Alexander Lobanov—were abducted alive on October 7 but were reportedly murdered by Hamas terrorists shortly before their bodies were found. Hamas has denied responsibility for their deaths, attributing them to Israeli bombing, a claim the Israeli military has rejected.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been criticized for his handling of the crisis, with some accusing him of prolonging the conflict for political gain. Netanyahu has apologized to Lobanov’s parents for not securing their son’s return alive.
International responses include US President Joe Biden expressing outrage and optimism for a deal, while French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the killings and called for an end to the war.
In the West Bank, ongoing military operations have resulted in further violence, including the death of three Israeli officers in a shooting attack and continued raids that have led to additional Palestinian casualties.
In Gaza, a major polio vaccination campaign has begun, facilitated by “humanitarian pauses” in the conflict. The World Health Organization reports that Israel agreed to these pauses to enable the vaccination of around 640,000 children, following the first confirmed polio case in Gaza in 25 years.
WRITTEN BY; CHRISTOPHER