By Scn Webdesk
Israeli strikers and protesters demand Gaza deal after 6 hostages killed
Hundreds of thousands of protesters took to Israel’s streets Monday for a second consecutive day, organizers said, as the country was brought to a near-halt by a general strike over anger at the government’s failure to secure a ceasefire-for-hostages deal.
Israel’s largest labor union called for the action to push for a hostage deal, saying the “entire Israeli economy will shut down.”
The protests broke out after Israel’s military recovered the bodies of six hostages killed in Gaza this weekend. Protesters say Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not done enough to protect the hostages, adding to mounting pressure on the leader to secure a ceasefire deal with Hamas.
Netanyahu on Monday asked the families of six hostages whose bodies were recovered over the weekend for forgiveness. Three of the hostages killed in Gaza — including Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg-Polin — had been expected to be released in a ceasefire deal, according to US and Israeli officials