Written By Lisa Murimi
Israel is bracing for a general strike as public outrage grows over the government’s handling of the hostage crisis with Hamas.
The call for a nationwide strike on Monday was issued by the country’s largest labor union, Histadrut, following the discovery of six hostages’ bodies in an underground tunnel in Gaza.
The union’s leader, Arnon Bar-David, criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, accusing it of delivering “body bags instead of a deal.”
On Sunday, tens of thousands of Israelis took to the streets, accusing Netanyahu of failing to secure the release of the remaining hostages taken during Hamas’s attack on October 7.
The demonstrations, which occurred in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and other cities, were largely peaceful but reflected deep public frustration.
Protesters chanted, “Alive, alive, we want them alive,” and held signs blaming Netanyahu for the deaths.
The government condemned the strike call, with far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich arguing that it played into Hamas’s hands.
While it is uncertain how widely the strike will be observed, the move signals that anger over the hostage situation is intensifying.
Meanwhile, the Israel Defense Forces continue their operations in Gaza, where hostilities persist.
