Israeli municipal services, flights disrupted by general strike amid hostage crisis

The news of their deaths has deeply shocked the nation, prompting widespread protests. On Sunday, over half a million people took to the streets in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv to express their outrage.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich attempted to block the strike through Israel’s Labour Court, which was set to convene mid-morning. However, the strike already had a significant impact, affecting various sectors across the country. The strike has garnered support from numerous employer groups, including those from manufacturing and the high-tech industry.

At Ben Gurion Airport, Israel’s main international air hub, some services were suspended, though incoming flights continued to operate. Public transportation systems, including buses and light rail services, faced cancellations and reduced operations. Additionally, workers at Haifa’s main commercial port joined the strike, further contributing to the disruptions.

Hospitals were functioning at reduced capacity, and banks remained closed, though many private sector businesses stayed open. Employers have permitted employees to participate in the strike, resulting in further service disruptions.

This strike follows months of protests by families of the hostages and highlights the deepening divisions in Israel over Netanyahu’s strategy for a ceasefire. Despite intense pressure from his defense minister, senior generals, and intelligence officials, Netanyahu has insisted on maintaining Israeli military positions in key areas of the Gaza Strip following any potential ceasefire.

Hamas, which continues to hold 101 hostages out of the 253 taken during last October’s raid on Israeli communities, has rejected any Israeli presence in Gaza. Despite the efforts of Egyptian and Qatari diplomats and repeated visits from senior US officials, negotiations to end the fighting and secure the release of the hostages have yet to yield a breakthrough. The ongoing conflict has resulted in over 40,600 Palestinian casualties and extensive destruction in Gaza.