On Sunday night, hundreds of protesters blocked Tel Aviv’s main highway after six more Israeli hostages were found dead in Gaza. The demonstration followed a massive outpouring of grief and anger from tens of thousands of Israelis demanding that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu secure a cease-fire with Hamas to bring the remaining captives home.
This protest is the largest seen in the 11 months of conflict, marking a potential turning point in a deeply divided nation. Israel’s largest trade union, Histadrut, has called for a general strike on Monday, the first since the October 7 Hamas attack, aiming to disrupt major sectors such as banking, health care, and the main airport.
Cease-fire talks have stalled for months, with many Israelis blaming Netanyahu for the lack of progress. Despite this, the prime minister retains significant support for his strategy of achieving “total victory” against Hamas, even if negotiations for the hostages are delayed.
Thousands gathered outside Netanyahu’s office in Jerusalem, with some in tears, while in Tel Aviv, relatives of the hostages marched with coffins.
