An Israeli trade union’s decision to go on a nationwide strike has put additional pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to secure a ceasefire deal with Hamas.

The Sept. 2 strike organized by the Histadrut trade union – the country’s largest – led to widespread closures of schools and government buildings. It also caused a temporary suspension of flights at Ben Gurion Airport.

Histadrut’s strike, the first since the Oct. 7 Al-Aqsa Flood attack by Hamas, underscored the growing frustration among Israelis with the government’s handling of the hostage situation and the ongoing conflict in Gaza. It also followed a harrowing weekend where the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) recovered the bodies of six more hostages from Gaza – including Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg-Polin. The latter’s abduction garnered international attention due to his family’s high-profile campaign for his release. (Related: Israelis flood streets in protest against Netanyahu’s stalling of Gaza ceasefire deal.)

The bodies were found in an underground tunnel in Rafah and forensic examinations indicated that the hostages had been executed by Hamas terrorists in recent days. The Israeli Health Ministry reported that the hostages were killed by multiple short-range gunshots, a revelation that has further fueled public anger and grief.

In Tel Aviv, tens of thousands of protesters flooded the streets, blocking major intersections and waving Israeli flags as they chanted slogans against Netanyahu.

Demonstrators climbed atop bus stops and other structures. Many held signs accusing Netanyahu of being a “murderer” and a “criminal,” with some explicitly blaming him for failing to secure a deal that could have saved the hostages.

The mood was one of both mourning and outrage, as protesters demanded immediate action to end the bloodshed and bring the remaining hostages home.

“Bibi is the prime minister, he holds the key for the deal. He can keep on putting more and more obstacles and demands, but that’s not relevant,” said Tel Aviv resident Ori Elman. The sentiment was echoed by many others who accused Netanyahu of prioritizing military objectives over the lives of Israeli captives.

The strike and protests highlight the deep political divisions within Israel, as not all regions or businesses participated in the shutdown. The Israel Labor Court issued an order to disband the strike on the afternoon of Sept. 2, which Histadrut complied with.

Netanyahu and his coalition still rejecting ceasefire offers

Several members of Netanyahu’s governing coalition, particularly those from far-right factions, continue to reject any form of ceasefire, insisting that military action is the only way to ensure Israel’s security.

Netanyahu has faced mounting criticism for his refusal to give up Israeli military control of the Philadelphi corridor, a narrow strip of land between Gaza and Egypt that has become a focal point in cease-fire negotiations. The prime minister argues that maintaining control over the corridor is essential to prevent Hamas from smuggling weapons through underground tunnels, but this stance has been a major sticking point in talks mediated by the United States, Qatar and Egypt.

The prime minister’s insistence on this point has led to accusations that he is deliberately sabotaging potential deals that could secure the release of more hostages.

In a Sept. 1 video statement, Netanyahu acknowledged the ongoing negotiations but blamed Hamas for the lack of progress. “Whoever murders hostages does not want a deal,” he said, vowing to continue military operations until all Israeli hostages are freed and Hamas is defeated.

Meanwhile, the conflict in Gaza has continued to escalate.

Israeli airstrikes have killed at least 40,786 people and injured over 94,224 according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, as the IDF intensifies its offensive in response to the Oct. 7 attacks that killed approximately 1,200 people in Israel. The humanitarian toll has been staggering, with entire neighborhoods in Gaza reduced to rubble and tens of thousands of civilians displaced.

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Watch this ABC News report about the U.S., Qatar and Egypt calling for renewed negotiations between Hamas and Israel.

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Sources include:

NPR.org