As demonstrations against the government over what is perceived as its inability to obtain the release of Hamas hostages continue, Israel is preparing for a nationwide strike.
Since the deaths of six hostages were found by soldiers on Saturday, which infuriated the country, tensions have been running high.
Tens of thousands of Israelis protested on Sunday throughout the country, denouncing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his administration for not doing enough to broker a settlement over the remaining hostages that Hamas had abducted during the raid on October 7.
Israel’s largest labor union, Histadrut, called for a one-day walkout on Monday, claiming the nation was receiving “body bags instead of a deal.” Arnon Bar-David, the union’s leader, made the announcement.
The Israeli government has reacted angrily to the union’s action, accusing it of playing into the hands of Hamas.
The call for a nationwide strike is the latest sign that public anger at the latest hostage killings is not about to subside. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that six bodies were found in an underground tunnel in the Rafah area of southern Gaza.
The hostages were identified as Carmel Gat, Eden Yerushalmi, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Alexander Lobanov, Almog Sarusi, and Master Sgt Ori Danino.
The demonstrations on Sunday accused the government and Mr. Netanyahu personally of failing to save the remaining hostages.
The demonstrations have overshadowed humanitarian efforts in Gaza, where the UN announced that the first full day of a campaign to vaccinate 640,000 children against polio had been successful.
The rollout relies on a series of localized pauses in fighting between Israeli forces and Hamas fighters, and the first three-day window began on Sunday. It is not clear how many hostages remain in Gaza.
Hamas kidnapped 251 people and killed 1,200 others during its attack in southern Israel on 7 October 2023.
(BBC)
