Partial strike in Israel over Gaza hostages

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing mounting pressure to reach a cease-fire deal in Gaza, but he has been resistant to compromise. Despite the discovery of six slain hostages in a Gaza tunnel, Netanyahu has insisted that Israel must assert control over the Gazan side of the border with Egypt, particularly the Philadelphi Corridor.

A nationwide general strike was held in Israel on Monday, October 16, in response to the government's handling of the war in Gaza and the killing of six hostages by Hamas. The strike, organized by the country's largest trade union, Histadrut, was the first nationwide general strike since the Hamas attacks on October 7. The strike disrupted transport and medical services, and many shops and businesses were closed. The strike was called to press the government to reach a deal to return hostages still held by Hamas.