The recent killings of six hostages in the Gaza Strip by Hamas have sparked mass protests and strikes across Israel, according to multiple reports.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) found six hostages in southern Gaza over the weekend, including an American who was apparently “brutally murdered” by Hamas shortly before they were found. News of the hostages' deaths sparked outrage among Israelis, who have been pressuring Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government for months to reach a ceasefire and a hostage exchange agreement. (Related article: US military moves warships to Middle East, creating huge gap in Pacific Ocean)
“Today I came to cry out for the hostages,” Israeli Shai Leifer said of his plans to protest against Prime Minister Netanyahu. According to “I've had enough. I'm tired of it,” he told The New York Times.
Demonstrators hold signs and flags during a protest calling for the release of Israelis held hostage by Palestinian militants in Gaza since October, in Tel Aviv on August 31, 2024, as conflict in the Gaza Strip continues between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas. (Photo by Jack Ghez/AFP via Getty Images)
Thousands of people went on strike and walked out of their jobs on Monday, creating immediate vacuums in certain sectors across Israel, including hospitals, banks, public transport and the country's largest airport. According to According to the Wall Street Journal, the government ordered the strike to end by 2:30 p.m. local time, instead of the originally scheduled time of 6:30 p.m. local time.
Despite the order to halt the attacks, protests are expected to continue on Monday, according to the WSJ. Tens of thousands of Israelis took to the streets on Sunday and Monday to protest Prime Minister Netanyahu's decision not to agree to a ceasefire that would guarantee the release of the roughly 100 remaining hostages.
“We and the whole country are in a very difficult situation right now because of the hostages, and yesterday was probably the most difficult day,” said Professor Yehuda Ullman, head of surgery at Haifa's Rambam Hospital. said Reuters noted that the decision to strike was difficult as it went against the doctors' beliefs, saying: “We cannot stand by and watch, that's why we are striking.”
TOP SHOT – Protesters hold up megaphones in front of burning wooden pallets as they block the Ayalon highway in Tel Aviv during an anti-government rally calling for the release of Israelis held hostage by Palestinian militants in Gaza since October, September 1, 2024. (Photo by OREN ZIV/AFP via Getty Images)
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Netanyahu was reportedly outraged by the attack, feeling that he had failed to blame it on Hamas, the terrorist group that invaded Israel on October 7, killing around 1,200 people and starting the war.
“We will make Hamas pay for killing the hostages,” Netanyahu reportedly told his cabinet. According to “Netanyahu has been increasingly at odds with his aides over how to conduct the war, and tensions escalated last week when an argument broke out between him and his defense secretary,” the Times of Israel reported, citing Israeli media outlet Ynet News. According to To Axios.
It was not immediately clear whether the historic protests and attacks would sway the Israeli government toward a ceasefire agreement, according to the WSJ. A ceasefire and hostage exchange agreement between Israel and Hamas has been a long-standing goal of the United States and Western countries, and in recent months the two countries have helped negotiate several proposals.
But talks have repeatedly stalled, with neither Israel nor Hamas able to agree on terms, and there is no clear path to a ceasefire in the near future. President Joe Biden is reportedly planning to present a “take it or leave it” ceasefire plan within the next few weeks, but if this plan fails, the US role in the negotiations could end. According to To the Washington Post.
Prime Minister Netanyahu's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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