A general strike across parts of Israel has severely disrupted industries, services, and education, as pressure mounts on the government to reach a ceasefire deal and secure the release of the remaining captives held in Gaza. The strike, called by Israel’s largest labour union, Histadrut, is the first of its kind since the war on Gaza began in October. It has targeted key sectors, including banking, healthcare, and education, and led to the closure of Israel’s main airport. The protest was sparked by the discovery of the bodies of six captives taken by Hamas on October 7, which heightened public demands for action. Around 100 captives were previously released under a truce in November, but many still remain in captivity, with some dying since their capture.

Sunday saw large rallies across Israel, with demonstrators calling on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to finalise a ceasefire that would ensure the return of the remaining captives. Both Israel and Hamas have accused each other of stalling the negotiations. U.S. President Joe Biden is reportedly working on a “final” proposal to secure a deal, alongside Qatar and Egypt’s mediation efforts. Arnon Bar-David, the head of Histadrut, declared that the ongoing receipt of body bags instead of progress toward a deal was unacceptable, emphasising that a resolution must be reached. The strike garnered significant support from Israel’s manufacturing and tech sectors, and media reports indicate that the action effectively paralyzed some parts of the country.

The Israeli government, however, managed to secure a legal order to halt the strike, claiming it was politically motivated. The Labour Court in Tel Aviv ruled that the strike must end by mid-afternoon, and Histadrut complied by instructing workers to return to their jobs. Despite this, protests continued, with demonstrators marching towards the national defence headquarters in Tel Aviv and similar actions reported in Beersheba and Haifa. The pressure is now mounting on both the Israeli government and the U.S., with Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris set to meet with negotiators to push for a ceasefire deal. Analysts suggest that the protests could be used by the U.S. to apply greater leverage on Netanyahu’s government ahead of the upcoming American elections.