Israel Breaking Point: Hostage Families Spark Nationwide Strike Fury Against Gaza War Surge!
Jerusalem – Families of Israeli hostages still held in Gaza are mobilizing for a nationwide general strike next Sunday, voicing strong opposition to the government’s choice to ramp up the war and seize Gaza City. This call for action reflects deep frustration and fear for the captives’ safety amid escalating military plans.
Grassroots Push to Halt the Economy
Relatives of the hostages gathered in Tel Aviv, declaring, “We are shutting down the country to save the soldiers and the hostages.” They were supported by the October 7 Council, which speaks for families who lost soldiers at the war’s beginning. The strike is set to begin as a bottom-up movement, relying on private businesses and everyday people to stop work and slow the economy.
Just hours after the announcement, the October 7 Council reported that “hundreds” of companies had committed to joining, alongside “thousands of citizens” planning to skip work. This rapid response shows growing public backing for the families’ cause, as they seek to pressure leaders into rethinking the war strategy.
Union Involvement in Focus
Israel’s biggest labor union, the Histadrut, has not yet signed on to the strike. However, the families plan to meet with its chairman, Arnon Bar-David, on Monday to urge his support. Such backing could amplify the strike’s reach, affecting more sectors across the nation.
Anat Angrest, whose son Matan remains a hostage in Gaza, made a heartfelt appeal to business and labor leaders. She warned, “Your silence is killing our children.” Angrest added, “I know your hearts are with us and in pain – but that is not enough. Silence kills. That is why I am here today to ask for something I have avoided until now – to ask the heads of industry: you have the power.”
The Histadrut has a history of standing with the hostages’ families. Last year, following the deaths of six Israeli hostages at the hands of Hamas in September 2024, the union organized a general strike. It disrupted vital areas like transport, banking, and healthcare, while backing protests that lasted all day. The government criticized the move as political and used a court order to end it quickly.
Opposition Leaders Back the Call
Although the Histadrut has stayed quiet on the new strike, key opposition figures have thrown their weight behind it. Opposition leader Yair Lapid described the families’ push for a general strike as “justified and appropriate,” highlighting its role in highlighting the human stakes.
Yair Golan, head of the Democrats party, said his group would take part and encouraged broader involvement. He called “on all Israeli citizens – anyone who holds the values of life and mutual responsibility dear – to strike with us, to take to the streets, to resist and disrupt.” This support from political voices could help rally more people to the cause.
Government Defends War Expansion
The trigger for this outcry was the Israeli security cabinet’s Friday decision to press ahead with a debated plan to broaden the conflict and control Gaza City. Families of the 50 hostages left in Gaza – with 20 thought to be alive – have slammed the move, fearing it puts the survivors at greater risk and could lead to their deaths.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stood by the escalation during a Sunday news briefing. “Contrary to false claims, this is the best way to end the war and the best way to end it speedily,” he stated to journalists. Netanyahu pointed to Gaza City and the central camps as Hamas’s “two remaining strongholds,” arguing that Israel must target them to “finish the job and complete the defeat of Hamas.”
This stance has widened the gap between the government and the families, who prioritize the hostages’ safe return over further fighting. As preparations for the strike build, the nation watches to see if it will force a shift in policy or deepen divisions.
The planned action next Sunday could mark a turning point, as ordinary Israelis weigh in on the war’s direction through economic pressure. With meetings underway and support growing, the coming days may decide the strike’s strength and its effect on the ongoing crisis.
