Thousands of Israelis gathered in Tel Aviv as part of a nationwide strike in solidarity with the families of hostages held in Gaza, urging Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to secure a deal with Hamas to end the war and free the captives.
The strike was organized by the hostages’ families, with some businesses and institutions allowing staff to participate in the protest. While certain workplaces shut their doors, many others remained open across the country. Schools were unaffected as they are currently on summer break.
Netanyahu, who leads Israel’s most right-wing government to date, has vowed to carry out a military operation to capture Gaza City—one of the last major areas outside Israel’s control. The move is highly controversial among the Israeli public and many hostage families, who fear that intensifying the war could endanger those still in captivity.
Officials say militants in Gaza are holding 50 hostages, with about 20 believed to still be alive.
