Hostage protest in Gaza

Mass protests have erupted across Israel, particularly in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, demanding the government take immediate action to negotiate the release of hostages held by Hamas. The demonstrations were spurred by the discovery of six hostages' bodies in a Gaza tunnel, leading to public outcry against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's perceived inaction. The Histadrut trade union has called for a general strike, affecting major transportation hubs including Ben Gurion Airport, to pressure the government on this issue. Concurrently, violence has escalated in the West Bank, where three Israeli police officers were killed amid ongoing military operations. International leaders, including U.S. President Biden and EU diplomat Josep Borrell, expressed outrage over the deaths of the hostages and called for a ceasefire. The rallying cries emphasize that the ongoing hostage situation presents an existential threat to Israel's pact with its citizens, highlighting deepening frustrations with the government's handling of the crisis.