The Israeli General Trade Union has announced a general strike to advance the Gaza hostage deal

On September 1st, Arnon Bar-David, the president of the Israel General Trade Union (Histadrut), called for a general strike on Monday to pressure the Israeli government to reach a hostage agreement and ensure the return of Israeli hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza. The president of the Israel General Trade Union called on all civilian workers to join the strike and said that Tel Aviv Ben Gurion International Airport, Israel's main air transport hub, will be closed from 8 am local time (1:00 pm Beijing time on Monday). Earlier, the Israeli Hostage and Missing Families Forum called on the public to "participate in mass demonstrations and demand the complete closure of the country" and called on the powerful Israel General Trade Union to hold a mass strike on Monday. The call was echoed by the Israel Business Forum, which represents the majority of private sector employees at Israel's 200 largest companies, and opposition leader Gantz, a former wartime cabinet member, who also called on Israelis to protest the Israeli government in Tel Aviv tonight.