Israel General Strike Begins Over Gaza Hostage Deaths

Many Israelis have joined a general strike in Israel in response to the government’s failure to return hostages held in Gaza.

The strike led to closures and other disruptions around the country, including at its main international airport.

Six hostages were found dead in Gaza on Sunday by the Israeli military, prompting a hostage family group to say that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has failed.

Tens of thousands of Israelis poured onto the streets late Sunday in grief and anger after the announcement.

Israel’s largest trade union, the Histadrut, called for a general strike for Monday, the first since the start of the war.

It aims to shut down or disrupt major sectors of the economy, including banking, health care and the country’s main airport.

But the call was being ignored in some areas on Monday, reflecting deep political divisions.

Before Sunday’s discovery of the bodies, Israel said it believed 108 hostages were still held in Gaza and that about a third of them were dead.

More than 100 were freed during a weeklong ceasefire in November in exchange for the release of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.

Eight hostages have been rescued by Israeli forces, with Qaid Farhan Alkadi, 52, freed last week.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum have demanded an immediate deal to bring the remaining hostages home.

But others support Netanyahu’s strategy of maintaining relentless military pressure on Hamas.

They say it will eventually force the militants to give in to Israeli demands, potentially lead to more successful rescues and ultimately annihilate the group.

Netanyahu has pledged “total victory” over Hamas and blames it for the failure of the negotiations, which have dragged on for much of this year.

The general strike caused delays at Israel’s main international airport Ben-Gurion, with outgoing flights halted between 8:00 and 10 a.m.

Those flights either departed early or were slightly delayed, and travelers were seen lining up at check-in counters despite the limited disruption.

Arriving flights were continuing as usual during that time, according to the Israel Airports Authority.

Banks, some large malls and government offices were all closed due to the strike and public transit was limited.

Some schools had shortened school hours in Israel’s populated central area, including Tel Aviv, and there were cancellations for public day cares and kindergartens.

Many municipalities, however, including Jerusalem, were not participating in the strike.

Israeli media reported that the state appealed to a labor court to cancel the strike, saying it was politically motivated.

The demonstrations on Sunday appeared to be the largest since the start of the war, with organizers estimating that up to a quarter of a million people joined nationwide events and the main rally held in Tel Aviv.

Israeli media estimated that 200,000 to 400,000 took part.

This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.