Israel experiences nationwide work stoppage following substantial demonstrations
Work Stoppage initiated by Israel's Histadrut labor union led to numerous sectors like administration, healthcare, and public transport halting operations nationwide. Institutions such as shops, restaurants, markets, and schools were instructed to shut down. Concurrently, various demonstrations and road blockades were scheduled throughout the nation.
Following the discovery of six hostages murdered by Hamas in the Gaza Strip over the weekend, the primary objective of this stoppage was to step up pressure on the government for the immediate liberation of the remaining hostages. The deceased hostages were found on Saturday in a tunnel near Rafah, a location in southern Gaza Strip.
Israel's Health Ministry divulged that these four men and two women were killed by Hamas terrorists, using numerous close-range gunshots, approximately 48 to 72 hours prior to the Sunday postmortem exam.
News of the hostages' demise ignited widespread protests across the country, even in significant cities such as Tel Aviv. The Hostage Families Forum urged a work stoppage, and opposition leader Jair Lapid echoed their plea.
Histadrut communicated that the entire Israeli economy should be halted, with Arnon Bar David, Histadrut's head, stating, "We cannot forsake those taken to the Gaza Strip." Around eleven months following Hamas' large-scale attack on Israel, 97 hostages remain detained by Hamas and other militant Palestinian groups, with 33 believed to have perished.
Cities like Tel Aviv and Haifa adhered to the call for a work stoppage on Monday, announcing temporary closures of municipal services. Notably, Jerusalem's municipality did not observe the strike.
Partial public transportation remained operational in affected areas on Monday, while the implementation of the work stoppage exhibited inconsistencies across various government offices. Although offices were closed to visitors, an employee from the national social security agency reported continuous work progress.
Right-wing Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich advocated for legal action by the Attorney General, asserting that the work stoppage was politically motivated and unconnected to a collective wage dispute. According to news site Ynet, Arnon Bar David, Histadrut's head, informed the court that the strike would conclude at 18:00 (17:00 CET), twelve hours earlier than initially proposed.
The Hostage Families Forum, in light of the hostages' demise, urgently called for a hostage deal. Despite the work stoppage, the Hostage Deal discussion remained a significant topic in Israel's political circles.
Impassioned protests against the hostage situation continued in cities like Tel Aviv, demanding a swift and peaceful resolution to the Hostage Deal.
