Latest news with #October7Council
RNZ News
13 hours ago
- Politics
- RNZ News
Hostage families call for nationwide strike as Israel prepares to escalate war
By Tal Shalev and Dana Karni , CNN Israeli soldiers near the border with Gaza. Photo:/File via CNN Newsource Families of Israeli hostages kept captive in Gaza are calling for a nationwide general strike, in protest of the Israeli security cabinet's recent decision to expand the war and take over Gaza City. "We are shutting down the country to save the soldiers and the hostages," the relatives of the hostages in Tel Aviv said. They were joined by the October 7 Council, which represents bereaved families of soldiers who fell at the start of the war. Organisers said the initiative would start as a grassroots effort primarily through private companies and citizens who would strike on Sunday to halt the economy. Within hours, the October 7 Council said "hundreds" of companies said they would participate in the strike, as well as "thousands of citizens who have declared they will take the day off". Israel's largest worker union, known as the Histadrut, hasn't yet joined the strike. The families are expected to meet with Histadrut Chairman Arnon Bar-David on Monday in a bid to convince him to join forces. Anat Angrest, mother of Matan, who is being held hostage in Gaza, appealed to the heads of the economic and labour industries, warning that "your silence is killing our children". Angrest said, "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 already staged a general strike in support of the hostages' families last year. After the killing of six Israeli hostages by Hamas in September 2024, the union disrupted key sectors like transport, banking, healthcare, and joined widespread protests and demonstrations throughout the day. However, the Israeli government blasted their actions as political and moved to halt the strike through a labour court injunction. While the Histadrut has not commented publicly about the strike, Israeli opposition leaders have endorsed and embraced the initiative. Leader of the opposition Yair Lapid said, "The call by the families of the hostages for a general strike is justified and appropriate." The chairman of the Democrats party Yair Golan announced the party would join the strike and 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". The Israeli security cabinet decided on Friday to move forward with a controversial plan to expand the war and take over Gaza City. The plan has provoked harsh criticism from the families of the remaining 50 hostages in Gaza, 20 of whom are presumed to be alive, warning that the new military move could endanger the living hostages and sentence them to death. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the escalation in a news conference on Sunday. "Contrary to false claims, this is the best way to end the war and the best way to end it speedily," he told reporters. Netanyahu described Gaza City and the central camps in the enclave as the "two remaining strongholds" of Hamas, which he insisted Israel had to attack to "finish the job and complete the defeat of Hamas". - CNN
Indian Express
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Israeli hostage families call for nationwide strike as Netanyahu prepares to escalate Gaza war
Families of Israelis held hostage in Gaza have called for a nationwide general strike next Sunday, in protest against the government's decision to expand the war and take over Gaza City, CNN reported. 'We are shutting down the country to save the soldiers and the hostages,' relatives of the hostages said at a gathering in Tel Aviv. They were joined by members of the October 7 Council, which represents families of soldiers killed at the start of the conflict. Organisers said the strike would begin as a grassroots effort, with private companies and citizens taking the day off to disrupt the economy. Within hours of the announcement, the October 7 Council said 'hundreds' of companies and 'thousands of citizens' had pledged to take part. Israel's largest trade union, the Histadrut, has not yet said if it will join the strike. The families plan to meet Histadrut chairman Arnon Bar-David on Monday to urge him to take part. Anat Angrest, whose son Matan is being held in Gaza, appealed to business leaders and labour organisations. 'Your silence is killing our children,' she said. '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 the heads of industry: you have the power.' The Histadrut held a general strike last year in support of hostage families, disrupting transport, banking, and healthcare after six Israeli hostages were killed in Gaza in September 2024. The Israeli government criticised the strike as political and sought to stop it through a labour court order. While the Histadrut has stayed quiet on the latest call, opposition parties have expressed support. Opposition leader Yair Lapid said, 'The call by the families of the hostages for a general strike is justified and appropriate.' Yair Golan, leader of the Democrats party, said his party would join the action. 'I call 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,' he said. The strike call follows the Israeli security cabinet's decision on Friday to approve a plan to expand the military campaign into Gaza City. Families of the 50 remaining hostages, 20 of whom are believed to be alive, say the plan could put their lives at greater risk. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the move in a news conference on Sunday. 'Contrary to false claims, this is the best way to end the war and the best way to end it speedily,' he told reporters.
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Hostage families call for nationwide strike as Israel prepares to escalate war
Families of Israeli hostages kept captive in Gaza are calling for a nationwide general strike next Sunday, in protest of the Israeli security cabinet's recent decision to expand the war and take over Gaza City. 'We are shutting down the country to save the soldiers and the hostages,' said the relatives of the hostages in Tel Aviv. They were joined by the October 7 Council, which represents bereaved families of soldiers who fell at the start of the war. Organizers said the initiative would start as a grassroots effort primarily through private companies and citizens who will strike on Sunday to halt the economy. Within hours, the October 7 Council said 'hundreds' of companies said they would participate in the strike, as well as 'thousands of citizens who have declared they will take the day off.' Israel's largest worker union, known as the Histadrut, hasn't yet joined the strike. The families are expected to meet with Histadrut Chairman Arnon Bar-David on Monday in a bid to convince him to join forces. Anat Angrest, mother of Matan, who is being held hostage in Gaza, appealed to the heads of the economic and labor industries, warning that 'your silence is killing our children.' Angrest said, '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 already staged a general strike in support of the hostages' families last year. After the killing of six Israeli hostages by Hamas in September 2024, the union disrupted key sectors like transport, banking, healthcare, and joined widespread protests and demonstrations throughout the day. However, the Israeli government blasted their actions as political and moved to halt the strike through a labor court injunction. While the Histadrut has not commented publicly about the strike, Israeli opposition leaders have endorsed and embraced the initiative. Leader of the opposition Yair Lapid said, 'The call by the families of the hostages for a general strike is justified and appropriate.' The chairman of the Democrats party, Yair Golan, announced the party would join the strike and 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.' The Israeli security cabinet decided on Friday to move forward with a controversial plan to expand the war and take over Gaza City. The plan has provoked harsh criticism from the families of the remaining 50 hostages in Gaza, 20 of whom are presumed to be alive, warning that the new military move could endanger the living hostages and sentence them to death. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the escalation in a news conference on Sunday. 'Contrary to false claims, this is the best way to end the war and the best way to end it speedily,' he told reporters.
CNN
18 hours ago
- Politics
- CNN
Hostage families call for nationwide strike as Israel prepares to escalate war
Families of Israeli hostages kept captive in Gaza are calling for a nationwide general strike next Sunday, in protest of the Israeli security cabinet's recent decision to expand the war and take over Gaza City. 'We are shutting down the country to save the soldiers and the hostages,' said the relatives of the hostages in Tel Aviv. They were joined by the October 7 Council, which represents bereaved families of soldiers who fell at the start of the war. Organizers said the initiative would start as a grassroots effort primarily through private companies and citizens who will strike on Sunday to halt the economy. Within hours, the October 7 Council said 'hundreds' of companies said they would participate in the strike, as well as 'thousands of citizens who have declared they will take the day off.' Israel's largest worker union, known as the Histadrut, hasn't yet joined the strike. The families are expected to meet with Histadrut Chairman Arnon Bar-David on Monday in a bid to convince him to join forces. Anat Angrest, mother of Matan, who is being held hostage in Gaza, appealed to the heads of the economic and labor industries, warning that 'your silence is killing our children.' Angrest said, '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 already staged a general strike in support of the hostages' families last year. After the killing of six Israeli hostages by Hamas in September 2024, the union disrupted key sectors like transport, banking, healthcare, and joined widespread protests and demonstrations throughout the day. However, the Israeli government blasted their actions as political and moved to halt the strike through a labor court injunction. While the Histadrut has not commented publicly about the strike, Israeli opposition leaders have endorsed and embraced the initiative. Leader of the opposition Yair Lapid said, 'The call by the families of the hostages for a general strike is justified and appropriate.' The chairman of the Democrats party, Yair Golan, announced the party would join the strike and 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.' The Israeli security cabinet decided on Friday to move forward with a controversial plan to expand the war and take over Gaza City. The plan has provoked harsh criticism from the families of the remaining 50 hostages in Gaza, 20 of whom are presumed to be alive, warning that the new military move could endanger the living hostages and sentence them to death. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the escalation in a news conference on Sunday. 'Contrary to false claims, this is the best way to end the war and the best way to end it speedily,' he told reporters.
CNN
18 hours ago
- Politics
- CNN
Hostage families call for nationwide strike as Israel prepares to escalate war
Families of Israeli hostages kept captive in Gaza are calling for a nationwide general strike next Sunday, in protest of the Israeli security cabinet's recent decision to expand the war and take over Gaza City. 'We are shutting down the country to save the soldiers and the hostages,' said the relatives of the hostages in Tel Aviv. They were joined by the October 7 Council, which represents bereaved families of soldiers who fell at the start of the war. Organizers said the initiative would start as a grassroots effort primarily through private companies and citizens who will strike on Sunday to halt the economy. Within hours, the October 7 Council said 'hundreds' of companies said they would participate in the strike, as well as 'thousands of citizens who have declared they will take the day off.' Israel's largest worker union, known as the Histadrut, hasn't yet joined the strike. The families are expected to meet with Histadrut Chairman Arnon Bar-David on Monday in a bid to convince him to join forces. Anat Angrest, mother of Matan, who is being held hostage in Gaza, appealed to the heads of the economic and labor industries, warning that 'your silence is killing our children.' Angrest said, '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 already staged a general strike in support of the hostages' families last year. After the killing of six Israeli hostages by Hamas in September 2024, the union disrupted key sectors like transport, banking, healthcare, and joined widespread protests and demonstrations throughout the day. However, the Israeli government blasted their actions as political and moved to halt the strike through a labor court injunction. While the Histadrut has not commented publicly about the strike, Israeli opposition leaders have endorsed and embraced the initiative. Leader of the opposition Yair Lapid said, 'The call by the families of the hostages for a general strike is justified and appropriate.' The chairman of the Democrats party, Yair Golan, announced the party would join the strike and 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.' The Israeli security cabinet decided on Friday to move forward with a controversial plan to expand the war and take over Gaza City. The plan has provoked harsh criticism from the families of the remaining 50 hostages in Gaza, 20 of whom are presumed to be alive, warning that the new military move could endanger the living hostages and sentence them to death. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the escalation in a news conference on Sunday. 'Contrary to false claims, this is the best way to end the war and the best way to end it speedily,' he told reporters.
