Protests in Israel calling for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip are intensifying. After six Israeli hostages taken by the Palestinian militant group Hamas were ultimately found dead, citizens who could no longer endure the situation poured into the streets to pressure the Benjamin Netanyahu government. Israel's largest labor union also launched a general strike. However, Prime Minister Netanyahu reaffirmed his intention to station troops in the buffer zone at the Gaza-Egypt border known as the 'Philadelphi Corridor,' signaling his resolve not to yield despite large-scale opposition protests.
According to CNN and other sources on the 2nd (local time), protests held across Israel from the previous night until that night were reported to be the largest since the outbreak of the Gaza war. The Israeli Hostages and Missing Persons Families Forum reported that at least 700,000 people nationwide participated in the protests, including 550,000 in Tel Aviv alone. They criticized Prime Minister Netanyahu for not making sufficient efforts toward hostage release and ceasefire negotiations and called for an immediate ceasefire. As of 7 p.m. on the 2nd, people were still out on the streets in major cities such as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, raising their voices demanding that the Netanyahu government sign a ceasefire agreement and release the remaining hostages.
The Histadrut, Israel's largest labor movement organization with 800,000 members, also carried out a general strike on the 2nd. Arnon Dardabit, chairman of Histadrut, declared, "If we continue to receive bodies, we will bring the entire economy of this country to a halt." Key labor unions in sectors such as transportation, distribution, and administration joined the strike. The Tel Aviv Ben Gurion International Airport union suspended airport operations from 8 a.m. on the 2nd, and bus companies as well as the Tel Aviv and Jerusalem light rail operators also participated in the strike.
However, the strike, initially scheduled to last until 6 p.m. that day, ended early after the Israeli Labor Court accepted the government's injunction request and ordered the political strike to stop by 2:30 p.m. Histadrut stated, "We respect the court's ruling in a state governed by law," but emphasized that "the solidarity strike (for hostage release) was important and supporting it was crucial." Histadrut had also organized large-scale protests last year when Netanyahu attempted to dismiss Defense Minister Yoav Galant, who opposed judicial reform legislation.
CNN described this as "the largest strike since Netanyahu's administration passed legislation to weaken the judiciary in March last year," adding, "After the bodies of six hostages were found in Gaza last Saturday, the Israeli public is enraged. This is a significant turning point." The Guardian reported, "This protest could inject new energy into the movement calling for a ceasefire and hostage release and could also evolve into a movement to overthrow the Netanyahu administration and demand new elections."
Galant, a member of the wartime cabinet, also opposed Netanyahu the day before, calling the refusal to agree to a ceasefire a moral disgrace. According to an official from the Israeli Prime Minister's Office, 101 hostages are held in Gaza, with 35 of them presumed dead.
Internationally, demands for a ceasefire directed at the Netanyahu government are growing louder. U.S. President Joe Biden responded "No" when asked if Netanyahu was making sufficient efforts for hostage negotiations. When asked if he planned to present a final hostage negotiation plan this week, he said, "We are close to that." The United Kingdom also suspended some arms export licenses to Israel on the same day, citing potential violations of international law. The suspension included parts for military aircraft, helicopters, and drones. This move is seen as a symbolic indication of increasing Western pressure on Israel.
However, Netanyahu expressed his determination not to back down. At a press conference that day, he apologized to the families of the six hostages found dead and said, "Israel will not ignore this massacre. Hamas will pay the price for this." He also reaffirmed his intention to station troops in the Philadelphi Corridor, stating, "The axis of evil (Iran and its proxies) needs the Philadelphi axis. We must make our presence there permanent." He claimed, "No one is more dedicated to the release of hostages than I am. No one can lecture me," and argued that Hamas only showed willingness to negotiate a ceasefire and hostage release after the Israeli military entered Rafah in southern Gaza and the Philadelphi Corridor.
Israel currently believes Hamas is procuring weapons and ammunition from Egypt through underground tunnels in the Philadelphi Corridor. CNN noted, "The corridor issue has been the biggest obstacle in ceasefire negotiations. Hamas demands the withdrawal of Israeli troops," and pointed out that Netanyahu has not backed down despite strong public opposition. Analysts suggest that Netanyahu's statement "No one can lecture me" was made with President Biden's remarks in mind.
Meanwhile, Hamas, which released videos of the six hostages alive, threatened to kill additional hostages and urged Israel to negotiate a ceasefire. In a statement that day, Hamas said, "If the occupying forces (Israeli military) approach the detention sites, new instructions regarding the hostages have been issued," adding, "If Netanyahu insists on releasing them through military pressure without successful negotiations, it means they will be trapped in coffins and returned to their families." Earlier, the six hostages were found dead by Israeli forces in a tunnel in Rafah, southern Gaza, on the 31st of last month.
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