Following the retrieval of the slain captives - The extensive Israeli coalition advocates for a nationwide work stoppage.
The largest labor organization in Israel, Histadrut, proposed a nationwide work stoppage on Monday to support the remaining captives in Gaza. Relatives of the abducted and political leader Jair Lapid urged public demonstrations. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) expressed shock upon learning of the slain hostages.
Histadrut chairman Arnon Bar David stated, "It's time for us to intervene and shake up those who need to be shaken," referring to the administration led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He has been criticized for hindering a Hamas-Israel agreement for hostage release with repeated demands. From 6 a.m. Monday, "the entire Israeli economy will cease operation," declared the union leader.
Prior to this, the relatives' forum for the hostages had previously proposed a general strike and urged unions to participate. This aim is to press the government to negotiate an immediate release for the remaining captives, informed the family forum for hostages and missing individuals. Lapid, the opposition leader, supported their demands.
Defense Minister Joav Gallant also backed the families, requesting the government to "reverse" a decision to maintain the Israeli military presence in the Philadelphi corridor. This area along the Gaza Strip–Egypt border is crucial in ceasefire negotiations.
On Saturday, the Israeli military discovered six hostage bodies in a tunnel in Rafah, Gaza's southern region. Five were seized during the Hamas assault on October 7, 2021, at the Nova music festival in southern Israel. One of the slain females, now identified, was taken from Kibbutz Beeri.
Hostages were executed
Among the deceased was the Israeli-American dual citizen Hersh Goldberg-Polin. His parents recently reminded the Democratic Party convention of their son's plight.
The Israeli Ministry of Health revealed preliminary findings of a postmortem examination of the hostages on Sunday evening. Six victims – male and female – were "killed by Hamas terrorists at close range with multiple gunshots" approximately 48 to 72 hours prior to examination, according to a spokeswoman.
Hamas sources reportedly disclosed on Sunday that Goldberg-Polin's name was included on a "confirmed Hamas list" of hostages destined for exchange with Palestinian inmates during a ceasefire with Israel. Reportedly, three of the deceased would have been freed in an agreement.
Scholz responds on Twitter
Detractors blame Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu for prolonging the Gaza Strip conflict for political motives. In a call with the parents of deceased Hamas captive Alexander Lobanov on Sunday, Netanyahu sought "forgiveness (...), that I was unable to bring Sasha back alive."
Scholz tweeted on the online platform X, "Sadness and anger fill us upon learning of six hostages found dead in the Gaza Strip." He continued, "Hamas terrorists are responsible for the deaths of these men and women, one of whom holds German connections." The deceased hostage Carmel Gat is the sister-in-law of German-Israeli Yarden Roman-Gat, released from Hamas captivity in November.
During the October 7 offensive on numerous sites in southern Israel, Hamas militants killed 1205 people and captured 251, as per Israeli reports. Eleven months later, 97 hostages remain in Hamas and other militant Palestinian groups' custody, with 33 reportedly dead. In response to the Hamas attack, Israel implemented extensive military operations in the Gaza Strip.
According to Hamas, which cannot be independently verified, over 40,700 people have died since October. For months, mediators USA, Qatar, and Egypt have been unsuccessful in reaching a ceasefire agreement and hostage release between Israel and Hamas.
The union leader, Arnon Bar David, mentioned the need for intervention in the Gaza Strip, specifically referring to the administration under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The relatives' forum for the hostages previously proposed a general strike in support of negotiating an immediate release for the remaining captives in the Gaza Strip.
