Families of hostages, fallen soldiers to push for general strike, though main labor union won’t back it

Groups representing families of hostages and of fallen soldiers are leading a push for a general strike of Israel’s economy over the government’s plan to escalate the war and take over Gaza City, though the national labor union indicates it won’t declare one.

The families intend to announce the demand and further steps at a press conference tomorrow in Tel Aviv, according to Hebrew media reports.

They will push private companies, organizations, trade unions and ordinary citizens to participate in the strike, under the slogan: “Silence kills — the country grinds to a halt to save the hostages and the soldiers.”

Many remarks by relatives of hostages today have amplified the call for a nationwide strike, including in anti-government, pro-hostage deal rallies this evening.

However, Hebrew media cites the national Histadrut labor federation as saying a strike “is not expected” in the near future, though its head Arnon Bar-David plans to meet representatives of the families this coming week.

The option of a Histadrut-backed strike is reportedly off the table after Tel Aviv’s labor court last year ruled that a labor action aimed at pressuring the government to seal a ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza following the murder of six hostages was illegal because it was political and not related to workers’ rights.