Protests Erupt in Israel Following Call for Strike by Trade Union

Protests have erupted across Israel following the recovery of six hostages' bodies from the Gaza Strip. The country's main trade union, Histadrut, has called for a nationwide strike, which was announced yesterday, Sunday.

On Sunday, thousands of Israelis took to the streets in cities including Tel Aviv, protesting against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government. They demanded an immediate agreement for the release of hostages. On October 7 of last year, the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched an attack on Israel, taking 251 people hostage. Israeli soldiers recovered the bodies of six hostages from a tunnel in southern Gaza's Rafah area last Saturday.

The Israeli military reports that 97 hostages are still in Hamas's custody in Gaza, and 33 have been killed.

During a week-long ceasefire in November of last year, several hostages were released. However, families of the hostages believe that no effective measures have been taken by the Israeli government to secure the release of those still held captive. 

The Hostage and Missing Persons Families Forum says that urgent negotiations were needed to secure the return of the hostages. A statement from the forum indicated that if not for delays and excuses in mediation efforts over the past few months, those six hostages might still be alive.

In response to the situation, the families of the hostages have called for a general protest across Israel. Following this, Histadrut, Israel’s powerful trade union, has announced a full strike starting today, Monday.

Histadrut Chair Arnon Bar-David stated, "Only our intervention can move them (the government). The lack of progress in the political agreement for the release of the hostages is unacceptable."

On Sunday, protesters blocked a highway in Tel Aviv and faced opposition from authorities. The police said they were forced to disperse the protesters. The names of the recovered hostages have been released by Israel: Carmel Gatt, Aden Yerushalmi, Hersh Goldberg-Pollin, Alexander Lovanov, Almog Sarusi, and Ori Danino.

Israeli military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said, "According to preliminary assessments, Hamas members brutally killed them shortly before we arrived."

Hamas official Izzat al-Rishq, based in Qatar, claimed that the hostages were killed by Zionist bombs, but this claim has been rejected by the Israeli military.

Israeli Health Ministry spokesperson Shira Solomon stated that the six hostages were shot at close range.