Israel union calls general strike after hostage deaths

A major Israeli labour union has called for a nationwide general strike on Monday after the bodies of six hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip were recovered.

Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem on Sunday as pressure mounted on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reach a deal to return the remaining hostages.

"We are getting body bags instead of a deal," said Arnon Bar-David, chairman of the Histadrut, which represents around 800,000 members.

He called on workers to stage a one-day walkout from 06:00 local time on Monday, adding that Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport will be closed from 08:00.

Families of the hostages have been pushing for a nationwide strike as part of efforts to get a ceasefire agreement between Mr Netanyahu's government and Hamas.

Mr Netanyahu said he was committed to securing a deal that releases the remaining captives and protects the country's security.

But he said: "Whoever murders hostages - does not want a deal."

The Hostages Families Forum said that all six held captive were "murdered in the last few days, after surviving almost 11 months of abuse, torture and starvation in Hamas captivity".

"The delay in signing the deal has led to their deaths and those of many other hostages," it said.

Mr Bar-David said: "We must reach a deal. A deal is more important than anything else."

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the six bodies were located on Saturday in an underground tunnel in the Rafah area of southern Gaza.

The IDF said they are Carmel Gat, Eden Yerushalmi, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Alexander Lobanov, Almog Sarusi and Master Sgt Ori Danino.

It is not clear how many hostages remain in Gaza. Hamas kidnapped 251 people and killed 1,200 others during an attack in southern Israel on 7 October 2023.

Israel launched a retaliatory military campaign against Hamas in Gaza. More than 40,530 people have been killed there since 7 October, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry.