6 hostages found dead in Gaza: Israelis protest, demand cease-fire
Tens of thousands of Israelis took to the streets on Sunday night, demanding a cease-fire with Hamas after six more hostages were found dead in Gaza. The demonstration, reportedly the largest in nearly a year of conflict, saw protesters chanting "Now! Now!" outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office. They urged him to negotiate an end to hostilities and secure the release of the remaining captives.
Nationwide strike adds pressure on Israeli government
Israel's largest trade union, the Histadrut, has called for a general strike on Monday. This is the first such action since the Hamas attack that triggered the war on October 7. The strike aims to disrupt major sectors of Israel's economy, including banking, healthcare and the country's main airport. This move further intensifies pressure on Netanyahu's government to reach a cease-fire agreement with Hamas.
Public sentiment divided over Netanyahu's strategy
Despite ongoing cease-fire negotiations, many Israelis blame PM Netanyahu for the lack of progress. However, he also has significant support for his strategy of "total victory" against Hamas. Shlomit Hacohen, a protester from Tel Aviv, voiced her frustration saying, "We really think that the government is making these decisions for its own conservation and not for the lives of the hostages."
Hostages's identities and cause of death revealed
The Israeli Health Ministry confirmed that the hostages were shot at close range and died last Thursday or Friday. The bodies were recovered from a tunnel in southern Gaza city of Rafah, near where another hostage was rescued alive last week. Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani, a military spokesperson, stated unequivocally that Hamas was responsible for their deaths.
Hamas's cease-fire conditions and Israel's response
Hamas has proposed a cease-fire in exchange for an end to the war, Israeli forces' withdrawal from Gaza, and the release of numerous Palestinian prisoners. Izzat al-Rishq, a senior Hamas official, claimed that the hostages would still be alive if Israel had accepted a US-backed cease-fire proposal in July. Despite this, Netanyahu remains committed to continuing the fight until Hamas is destroyed, reports said.
