A general strike has disrupted industry, services, and education across parts of Israel as demands for the government to agree on a ceasefire deal and bring remaining captives home from Gaza grow.
Monday’s general strike, called by the country’s largest labor union Histadrut – the first since the start of the war in Gaza in October – was aimed at disrupting sectors of the economy including banking and healthcare, and shutting down the country’s main airport and education institutions.
The action was prompted by the discovery on Sunday of the bodies of six of the 250 or so captives taken by Hamas on October 7.
About 100 were released under a truce in November while several have since died.
Huge rallies were held on Sunday calling on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to secure a ceasefire deal that would bring the remaining captives home. Both Israel and Hamas claim that the other side is blocking an agreement.
Ben Gurion airport, Israel’s main air transport hub, was closed from 8 am (05:00 GMT) by a two-hour walkout. Israeli media has since reported that workers and civil aviation companies have decided to prolong their action.
The Manufacturers Association of Israel said it backed the strike and accused the government of failing in its “moral duty” to bring the captives back alive.
US President Joe Biden is reported to be working on what US sources have branded a “final” proposed deal, in another apparent effort to raise the pressure.
