Nationwide Strike Rocks Israel as Hostage Families Demand Gaza Deal
Nationwide Strike Rocks Israel as Hostage Families Demand Gaza Deal
A massive nationwide general strike is currently underway across Israel, as families of hostages and their supporters protest the government’s decision to escalate the war in Gaza by conquering Gaza City. Organizers are demanding a deal to secure the return of their loved ones instead of further military expansion.
The strike, spearheaded by the October Council and the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, began this morning at 6:29 a.m., marking the exact time of the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack that initiated the conflict. Protests are unfolding at hundreds of sites nationwide, with nearly one million people expected to participate in activities, particularly at Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square.
Early morning demonstrations saw protesters distributing yellow ribbons, a symbol for the hostages, at junctions and intersections. Key events throughout the day include a press statement from the October Council, a special photography exhibition at Hostages Square, and speeches from relatives of hostages. Solidarity marches for specific industries, including doctors and students, are also planned in Tel Aviv.
The day will culminate with a prayer service at 6 p.m. at Hostages Square, followed by a march from Tel Aviv–Savidor Center railway station to Hostages Square for a major rally at 8 p.m. Convoys from across Israel are converging on Tel Aviv for the evening demonstration.
Beyond Tel Aviv, protests and events are scheduled in northern and southern Israel, including a convoy in the Western Galilee and a demonstration in Eilat. Local councils, like Haifa Municipality, are also hosting solidarity rallies. Communities near the Gaza border, heavily impacted by the October 7 invasion, are seeing their own protests and a full day strike from local councils.
Despite the Histadrut, Israel’s main labor union, not officially joining the strike due to concerns about politicizing the hostage issue, numerous businesses, universities, tech companies, and other organizations have announced their participation or support for employees wishing to protest. These include major tech firms like Wix, Fiverr, and Meta, along with various cultural, professional, and employee unions.
The ongoing crisis sees terror groups in Gaza holding 50 hostages, including 49 from the October 7, 2023 onslaught. While 20 are believed to be alive, grave concerns persist for the well-being of others, alongside the bodies of at least 28 confirmed dead and an IDF soldier killed in 2014.
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