Israel Grind to a Halt: Nationwide Strike Amplifies Hostage Families’ Fury

Protests erupted again across Israel on Monday as families of the 50 remaining hostages and tens of thousands of supporters kicked off a full-day general strike. Major highways were clogged from dawn, with Route 1 to Jerusalem and Route 16 still sealed by demonstrators demanding an immediate Gaza ceasefire and the unconditional release of detainees.

In Tel Aviv’s “Hostages Square,” activists unfurled a massive Israeli flag emblazoned with hostage portraits and set up a photography exhibition running from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. Speeches by relatives are scheduled every two hours on the main stage, culminating in an 8 p.m. mass rally outside the Kirya military headquarters. Organizers say nearly a million people could pass through the square today, handing out yellow ribbons at intersections across the country.

Police report at least 32 arrests for obstructing traffic and disturbing public order. In separate incidents, two drivers frustrated by the gridlock attacked protesters, one using pepper spray and another striking a marcher. Despite clearance operations reopening most arteries, the heart of the demonstration remains intact.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid and former captive Arbel Yehoud joined families on the streets, warning that military pressure alone will not free the hostages. “A deal must bring them back all at once,” Yehoud told the crowd, echoing calls for a comprehensive exchange rather than staged releases.

Beyond the streets, the humanitarian toll continues. Italy’s Pisa University Hospital announced the death of 20-year-old Marah Abu Zuhri, evacuated from Gaza in critical condition, underscoring the desperate plight prompting rapid medical evacuations. Meanwhile, the international community watches closely as Israel presses plans for a Gaza City offensive, fueling further domestic unrest.

With traffic snarled and political tensions at fever pitch, Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government faces mounting pressure to pursue negotiations. As night falls on another day of shutdown, all eyes turn to whether today’s unprecedented unity will force a breakthrough or deepen the stalemate.