A general strike has disrupted industry, services and education across parts of Israel.
This came as demands for the government to agree on a ceasefire deal and bring remaining captives home from Gaza grow.
The general strike, called by the country’s largest labour union; Histadrut was aimed at disrupting sectors of the economy including banking and healthcare, and shutting down the country’s main airport and education institutions.
The action was prompted by the discovery on Sunday of the bodies of six of the 250 or so captives taken by Hamas on October 7. About 100 were released under a truce in November while several have since died.
Reports suggest that the walkout was highly effective in some parts of Israel.
Ben Gurion airport, Israel’s main air transport hub, was closed from 8am (05:00 GMT) by a two-hour walkout. Israeli media has since reported that workers and civil aviation companies have decided to prolong their action.
Israel’s Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich in a statement announced that he has directed the treasury not to pay anyone who joins the general strike called by Histadrut.
The far-right minister, who has also called on the courts to stop the strike action, accused the chairman of Histadrut, Arnon Bar-David, of working in the interests of Hamas’ leader, Yahya Sinwar.
“I regret that instead of the Histadrut Chairman choosing to support the State of Israel in these difficult times by helping to strengthen the Israeli economy, support businesses, and back reservists, he is effectively fulfilling Sinwar’s dream.”
Bezalel Smotrich
He added, “Instead of representing Israeli workers, he chooses to represent Hamas’ interests.”
Israeli Court Orders Nationwide Strike To end
According to local media outlets, Israel’s Labour Court in Tel Aviv ruled that the ongoing strike across the country must end at 2:30pm.
It was reported that the Israeli government filed an injunction against a general strike today by one of the country’s largest labour unions, Histardrut.
The strike was declared to pressure the government into agreeing to a ceasefire deal in Gaza after the deaths of six captives held by Hamas triggered mass protests across the country.
Following the order by an Israeli labour court to end the general strike by 2:30pm, the chairman of the labour union, Histadrut noted that he has instructed workers to go back to work.
“We live in a state of law and respect the court’s decision. Therefore I instruct everyone to return to work at 2:30pm,” Arnon Bar-David was reported as saying.
He added, “It is important to emphasise that the identification strike was an important move and I stand behind it.”
A reporter stated that it’s still “difficult” to say how much this will change Netanyahu’s mind, as the country’s labour court rules the protests must end early.
“Even though some of these strikes might end early, people are still going to be protesting in the streets,” the reporter said.
“The last time we saw a large labour union strike like this was when the country was protesting a different issue, and it had an impact on the government that actually allowed them to change course in their legislation,” the reporter added.
She added that it’s the “economic pressure” that the demonstrators and the labour union are hoping to apply on Netanyahu and the government so that “there can be a deal, ultimately to release the captives.”
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