Families of captives urge Israelis to join nationwide strike
Families of the captives held in Gaza are going on a strike today in an effort to urge Netanyahu to come to an agreement with Hamas and bring back their relatives.
Itzik Horn, father of captive Eitan Horn, urged Israelis on Saturday to join the nationwide strike “Tomorrow, Israel comes to a halt, and I call on everyone to join,” he said. “It is a day of protest. It is not only a day to show solidarity with the families of the hostages, but a civic demonstration to preserve the moral character of the State of Israel.”
There are 50 captives still held in Gaza, of whom Israeli officials believe 20 are alive. Most of those freed so far emerged as a result of diplomatic negotiations.
Supporters of Israeli captives begin day of protests
The Times of Israel is reporting that the families and supporters of Israeli captives have begun their nationwide strike to “protest the expansion of the war in Gaza rather than striking a deal to free those held by Hamas”.
The strike is endorsed by thousands of businesses, local authorities and unions and will include protests and actions at 400 locations across Israel, according to the news outlet.
“We’re united in a simple demand for the government of Israel to put on the table today an Israeli outline for a comprehensive deal to end the war in exchange for the last hostage,” Naomi Abir, mother of Lotan, an American Israeli who was killed at the Nova festival, was quoted as saying.
“Without these conditions, we know the other side won’t accept,” she added.
Israeli protesters set fire to tyres and stopped traffic on the highway leading to Jerusalem, in Latrun, Israel, on Sunday morning
Antiwar protests block main highways across Israel
As we reported, there are nationwide protests and a general strike in Israel against the war in Gaza and calling for a deal to release the captives in the enclave.
Israeli media reports that throngs of protesters blocked several highways in the country, causing widespread traffic jams. Thousands of police officers have been deployed.
Opposition parties have encouraged Israelis to take part, with opposition leader Yair Lapid urging Israelis to stand with the captives’ families because it was “reason enough” that the families asked, according to The Jerusalem Post.
The Times of Israel says close to one million people are expected to visit Hostages Square in Tel Aviv throughout the day.
It also reports that relatives of Israeli captives are planning to set up an encampment on the Gaza fence on Monday. The encampment will be named “Waypoint 50”, a reference to the 50 captives held in Gaza, at least 20 of whom are said to be alive, the newspaper said.
The protest blocking the main highway connecting Jerusalem and Tel Aviv came as families of captives held in Gaza called for a nationwide strike on Sunday
