Court Curtails Histadrut Strike Over Hostages

A rare general strike took place in Israel on Monday, significantly disrupting various sectors, including schools, hospitals, and transport services, to protest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's handling of the Gaza conflict and failure to secure the release of hostages. The strike was called by the Histadrut labor union after the discovery of six hostages' bodies, sparking widespread grief and anger. The strike, initially planned to end at 6 pm, was cut short by a court order at 2:30 pm due to insufficient notice. Protests continued despite the strike's early termination, highlighting deep political divisions within the country over Netanyahu's strategy. While some support continued military pressure on Hamas, others demand a ceasefire and immediate hostage negotiations.