The protests were sparked by the discovery of six dead hostages in Gaza, who had been held by Hamas for nearly 11 months. The Israeli Defense Forces reported that these hostages were killed just before Israeli troops could reach them. The deceased were identified as Carmel Gat, Eden Yerushalmi, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Alexander Lobanov, Almog Sarusi and Master Sgt Ori Danino. Three of them including an Israeli American were scheduled to be released in an earlier proposed ceasefire deal.
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The deaths ignited outrage across Israel leading to what is considered the largest protest in 11 months of the war with Hamas. Protesters filled the streets of Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and other major cities, chanting demands for an immediate ceasefire and accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of failing to secure the release of the remaining captives.
The catalyst for the protests was the recovery of six bodies of captives who had been held by Hamas and other Palestinian groups since the start of the war.
Despite the military’s claim that these captives were killed by Hamas just before Israeli forces could reach them, the public’s anger has largely been directed at the Netanyahu government.
On the evening of September 1, 2024, approximately 300,000 people took to the streets across Israel in Tel Aviv, where protests have been a regular occurrence over the past year. These protests have been the largest since the war began.
On September 2, 2024, the Histadrut, largest trade union representing about 800,000 workers, called for a nationwide general strike.
This strike was supported by major sectors such as high-tech, manufacturing, transportation and education, effectively shut down large parts of Israel’s economy.
Ben Gurion International Airport, the primary gateway for international travel in Israel, was shut down for several hours due to the strike.
Major public transportation services including bus companies like Egged, Dan and Metropolin, as well as Tel Aviv’s Light Rail and Haifa’s Carmelit underground railway, participated in the strike.
The Israel Business Forum, which represents workers from 200 of the country’s largest companies, also joined the strike. Companies in the tech sector such as Wix, Fiverr and Monday.com, halted operations.
Hospitals and health clinics operated at reduced capacity and schools across the country were only open for half a day. Universities also participated in the strike, though some exams continued as scheduled.
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The political response to the protests and strike has been divided. Far-right figures within the government including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, have opposed the strike, accusing the Histadrut of undermining the Israeli economy.
The Netanyahu government sought an injunction to stop the strike with Smotrich even directing the treasury to withhold salaries from those participating in the strike.
However the labor court’s decision to limit the strike to only a few hours highlights the legal and political complexities surrounding the protests.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid supported the strike, criticizing the Netanyahu administration for its handling of the war and its failure to secure a ceasefire.
Despite various rounds of mediated negotiations in Qatar and Egypt, a ceasefire agreement remains elusive. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to worsen and many blame Netanyahu for derailing agreements by imposing stringent, non-negotiable conditions.
Key sticking points include Netanyahu’s refusal to withdraw from corridors in Gaza such as the Philadelphi and Netzarim Corridors.
Additionally Netanyahu’s alleged reluctance to release older Palestinian prisoners as part of a exchange deal has stalled negotiations.
Hamas has proposed releasing the remaining captives in exchange for an end to military operations in Gaza, withdrawal of Israeli forces and the release of Palestinian prisoners.
Netanyahu responded by blaming Hamas for the stalled negotiations, stating that “Whoever murders hostages doesn’t want a deal.”
In Tel Aviv, protesters broke through police lines, blocked the Ayalon Highway and set fires on the road. Symbols of the protest included flags, yellow ribbons representing solidarity with the hostages and signs directly blaming Netanyahu for the crisis.
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