Israel’s Labor Court in Tel Aviv ruled that the general strike, which takes place today (9/2), should end at 2:30 p.m., according to court documents, as reported by Reuters.
Israel’s largest union has called a general strike for today to put pressure on the prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to agree to a ceasefire after the bodies of six Israeli hostages held by Hamas were found and recovered, sparking outrage among Israeli citizens and mass protests across the country.
Today’s decision of the Tel Aviv Labor Court is expected to fuel this anger even more.
Disagreement between YPAM and Netanyahu
Defense Minister Yoav Gallad — who frequently clashes with Prime Minister Netanyahu — also called for a deal yesterday, while opposition leader former prime minister Yair Lapid called on citizens to protest in Tel Aviv yesterday.
Trying to prevent the strike
In a last-minute bid to prevent the 24-hour strike, far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a member of the government’s national security council, asked the judiciary to declare the strike illegal.
Rage in Israel
The bodies of six hostages, including two women, were found yesterday Saturday in a “tunnel in the Rafah zone”, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, the armed forces said, shocking and angering many in Israel.
“Stop the war”
US President Joe Biden said he was “devastated” and “outraged”, his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron said he was “disgusted” and demanded that “the war stop”.
They buried the hostages
At least four of the hostages were buried yesterday, with grieving families in attendance.
“They abandoned you, every day, every hour, for 331 days (…) they sacrificed you to ‘destroy Hamas,'” said Nira Serousi, saying goodbye to her child at the funeral of her son Almog.
He was referring to the practically daily statements made by Prime Minister Netanyahu, who vows to continue the war until the annihilation of Hamas, which Israel designates as a terrorist organization, as do the US and the EU.
Netanyahu under pressure
Mr. Netanyahu, under pressure for months to conclude a deal for the hostages, after months of absolute deadlock, announced yesterday that he would “settle the score” with Hamas.
Israel: “They were shot at point blank range”
According to the Israeli Ministry of Health, the autopsy performed on the bodies of the six hostages showed that they were killed by bullets almost “from contact” between “Thursday and Friday morning”.
Hamas denies it
Instead, a Hamas official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told AFP that the victims were “killed by (Israeli) gunfire and shelling,” noting that all six victims were included “on a list of hostages to be released.” endorsed by the Palestinian movement.
“Either Netanyahu or the agreement”
Israelis will now have to “choose: either Netanyahu or the deal,” another Hamas official told Reuters news agency.
Months of negotiations mediated by Qatar, Egypt and the US have so far failed to produce an agreement despite pressure from Washington.
“No agreement without a complete withdrawal of the Israelis from Gaza”
Speaking on Al Jazeera television yesterday, Khalil Al Hayya, Hamas’s top negotiator, reiterated that the movement will not accept any deal unless it provides for the complete withdrawal of Israeli armed forces from the Gaza Strip, including the so-called corridors of Philadelphia and Nezarim — which has turned into a major obstacle in the talks.
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