Amidst the ongoing conflict in Gaza, Israel’s largest labor union, the Histadrut Labor Federation, has announced a massive strike for Monday. The strike aims to pressure the government into securing a ceasefire deal with Hamas, following the discovery of six Israeli hostages, including an American citizen, murdered in a Hamas tunnel.
The discovery of the bodies, including that of Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg-Polin, has sent shockwaves through Israel. The IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) launched a rescue operation in the tunnels below Gaza’s Rafah, where the bodies were found. IDF spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari stated that the hostages were “brutally murdered” by Hamas terrorists shortly before their rescue.
The labor union, representing hundreds of thousands of workers, believes that a ceasefire is crucial for the nation’s recovery, both socially and economically. Histadrut Labor Federation chief Arnon Bar-David stated, “We are getting body bags instead of a deal. We must reach a deal. A deal is more important than anything else.”
Bar-David’s call for a strike received support from various sectors, including manufacturers and tech entrepreneurs. Ron Tomer, leader of Israel’s Manufacturers’ Association, said, “Without the return of the hostages, we will not be able to end the war, we will not be able to rehabilitate ourselves as a society, and we will not be able to begin to rehabilitate the Israeli economy.”
The strike, which is scheduled to begin at 6 a.m., will involve major disruptions, including the closure of Ben Gurion Airport, Israel’s main international airport. The strike is a powerful demonstration of the public’s growing frustration with the lack of progress in securing the release of the remaining hostages and the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
The discovery of the murdered hostages has further escalated tensions and put intense pressure on the Israeli government to secure a ceasefire and negotiate the return of the remaining hostages. The strike represents a collective effort by the Israeli people to force action and seek an end to the conflict.
