Israel’s main international airport, Ben Gurion International Airport, came to a standstill on Monday as part of a nationwide strike. This action, organized by the Histadrut labor union, is a direct response to the escalating public outrage surrounding the ongoing hostage crisis in Gaza. The strike reflects the growing frustration with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s handling of the situation, particularly following the discovery of six dead hostages, including Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg-Polin, whose bodies were found in a Hamas tunnel in Rafah. Their deaths have intensified calls for decisive action and strained ongoing ceasefire negotiations.
The strike, which began on Monday morning, aims to exert pressure on the government to prioritize a ceasefire-for-hostages deal. The Histadrut’s chairman, Arnon Bar-David, has warned that the union could escalate the action to shut down the entire economy, stating that Israel is currently in a “downward spiral” amidst the ongoing violence.
The airport confirmed that both departures and arrivals would be halted for two hours starting at 8 a.m. local time (1 a.m. ET). The strike’s impact extends far beyond the airport, affecting various public services and institutions. Municipalities such as Tel Aviv and Haifa have joined the strike, and government ministries responsible for essential services, including parts of the Prime Minister’s Office and the Interior Ministry, are also participating.
Healthcare facilities may also face disruptions, although they will continue to operate on an emergency basis. The country’s teachers’ union has announced that it will not participate in the strike, but support staff at schools will, potentially impacting educational activities. Major universities, including Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv University, have confirmed their participation in the strike. The Hebrew University’s spokesperson indicated that this shutdown will be more extensive than previous measures, including all activities except for essential exams.
In response to the strike, Israel’s far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has requested the country’s Attorney General, Gali Baharav-Miara, to seek urgent injunctions to block the action. Smotrich argues that the strike will harm the wartime economy and set a dangerous precedent. A legal hearing on this request is scheduled for Monday morning.
Protests erupted across Israeli cities on Sunday, with demonstrators demanding Netanyahu’s resignation and a more effective response to the hostage crisis. In Tel Aviv, some protesters blocked a major avenue on Monday morning. The strike underscores the growing public pressure on the government to secure the release of the hostages and bring an end to the ongoing violence.
