Israel erupts in protest over fate of hostages

Trade union calls for general strike after six bodies recovered from Gaza

- JOSEF FEDERMAN, MELANIE LIDMAN

Israelis gather in Tel Aviv on Sunday demanding a ceasefire with Hamas in Gaza.

TEL AVIV, ISRAEL Tens of thousands of grieving and angry Israelis surged into the streets Sunday night after six more hostages were found dead in Gaza, chanting "Now! Now!" as they demanded that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reach a ceasefire with Hamas to bring the remaining captives home.

The mass outpouring appeared to be the largest such demonstration in 11 months of war and protesters said it felt like a possible turning point, although the country is deeply divided.

Israel's largest trade union, the Histadrut, further pressured the government by calling a general strike for Monday, the first since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack that started the war. It aims to shut down or disrupt major sectors of the economy, including banking, health care and the country's main airport.

Ceasefire negotiations have dragged on for months. Many blame Netanyahu for failing to reach a deal, which opinion polls show a majority of Israelis favour.

But the prime minister also has significant support for his strategy of "total victory" against Hamas, even if a deal for the hostages has to wait.

Thousands of people, some of them weeping, gathered Sunday night outside Netanyahu's office in Jerusalem. In Tel Aviv, hostages relatives marched with coffins to symbolize the toll. "We really think that the government is making these decisions for its own conservation and not for the lives of the hostages, and we need to tell them, "Stop!" said Shlomit Hacohen, a Tel Aviv resident.