Mass Protests and Strike After Gaza Hostage Deaths

Tens of thousands of Israelis took to the streets, demanding Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu secure a ceasefire-for-hostages deal after six hostages were found dead in Gaza. The protests, which are among the largest since the war's onset 11 months ago, saw demonstrators blocking highways and chanting for immediate action. The Israeli military recovered the bodies of the hostages, including Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg-Polin, from a tunnel in Gaza, fueling public outrage. Israel's largest labor union, Histadrut, announced a general strike to pressure the government. U.S. lawmakers and President Biden expressed condolences and urged for a ceasefire to facilitate the release of remaining hostages. Despite significant support for Netanyahu's hardline stance, public sentiment appears increasingly in favor of a negotiated resolution.