The streets of Israel were flooded with protesters on Sunday night as news broke that six hostages, including an Israeli-American, were found dead in Gaza. The tragic development has ignited widespread calls for an immediate cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, putting further pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The six hostages-Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Ori Danino, Eden Yerushalmi, Almog Sarusi, Alexander Lobanov, and Carmel Gat-were recovered from a tunnel in the southern Gaza city of Rafah. Their deaths occurred shortly before Israeli forces arrived, intensifying public outcry over the protracted conflict. Goldberg-Polin, 23, from Berkeley, California, had been a prominent figure in the hostage crisis, with his family actively campaigning for his release.
In response to the mounting anger, Israel's largest trade union, the Histadrut, called for a general strike on Monday. This move marks the first major labor action since the October 7 Hamas attack, which sparked the ongoing conflict. The strike aims to disrupt key sectors of the economy, including banking, healthcare, and the main airport, reflecting the severity of the public's frustration.
Thousands of demonstrators gathered outside Netanyahu's office in Jerusalem, chanting for an immediate cease-fire. In Tel Aviv, protestors carried coffins to symbolize the heavy toll of the conflict. "We really think that the government is making these decisions for its own conservation and not for the lives of the hostages, and we need to tell them, 'Stop!'" said Shlomit Hacohen, a resident of Tel Aviv.
The Israeli military has confirmed that the hostages were killed by Hamas shortly before Israeli forces could intervene. Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani stated that the bodies were found several dozen meters underground amidst ongoing combat. He asserted, "There is no doubt Hamas had killed them."
The hostages were among the 250 individuals taken by Hamas during the October 7 attacks, which resulted in over 1,200 Israeli deaths. The current conflict has claimed over 40,000 Palestinian lives, according to local health officials. The recovery of these hostages' bodies has not only exacerbated public outrage but also intensified calls for a cease-fire.
The deaths of three of the hostages-Goldberg-Polin, Yerushalmi, and Gat-were particularly poignant, as they were reportedly scheduled for release in the first phase of a cease-fire proposal discussed in July. This revelation has fueled anger, with critics accusing Netanyahu of prioritizing political and strategic interests over the lives of the captives.
As protests continued into Monday, the Hostage and Missing Families Forum demanded a "complete halt of the country" to push for a cease-fire. The forum's spokesperson criticized Netanyahu's handling of the situation, claiming that the government's failure to act has led to unnecessary suffering.
In a rare moment of public apology, Netanyahu expressed his regret to the families of the victims, acknowledging the failure to secure their release. "I deeply regret and ask for forgiveness that we were not able to bring [them] back alive," Netanyahu said.
Meanwhile, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris condemned the killings, with Biden expressing deep sorrow and anger. Biden reiterated U.S. support for Israel while vowing that "Hamas leaders will pay for these crimes." Harris also condemned Hamas as a "vile terrorist organization" and pledged continued support for American citizens and hostages.
The international community has reacted strongly to the developments. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the deaths as "horrific and senseless," calling for an immediate cease-fire. Hamas, on the other hand, has blamed the Biden administration for the hostages' deaths, accusing the U.S. of supporting a "war on genocide."
