Jerusalem, September 2, 2024— A major labour strike in Israel has led to significant disruptions across the country as the Histadrut union, Israel’s largest labor organization, pushes for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to secure a deal for Israeli hostages held in Gaza.
The strike, which began on Monday, was called by Histadrut following the discovery of six hostages’ bodies in a Gaza tunnel. These hostages were reportedly killed 48 to 72 hours before being found. The shocking news led to large-scale protests in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, with at least half a million people taking to the streets on Sunday.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich sought to block the strike through the Labour Court, but many sectors were already affected. Key services at Ben Gurion Airport were suspended, though flights continued to land. Bus and light rail services were either canceled or severely limited, and Haifa’s commercial port also saw strike action. Hospitals operated at reduced capacity, and banks were closed, although many private businesses remained open, allowing staff to join the strike.
The strike underscores the intense divisions in Israel over Netanyahu’s handling of the hostage crisis. Despite pressure from defense officials and diplomats, Netanyahu has insisted on keeping Israeli troops in Gaza, while Hamas rejects any Israeli presence.
As of now, Hamas holds 101 hostages out of the 253 taken during the October 7 attack on Israeli communities, which resulted in 1,200 deaths and triggered a severe Israeli military response. The conflict has devastated Gaza, with over 40,600 Palestinians killed.
The strike highlights the ongoing frustration and demands for action from families of the hostages and the wider Israeli public.
