Givatayim, Kfar Saba municipalities announce strike to support hostage families

Efforts to launch a general strike around the country grow, with the Kfar Saba and Givatayim municipalities saying they will not provide services tomorrow.

Givatayim Mayor Ran Kunik says in a statement that the city’s civil servants instead will demonstrate together with hostage families to urge the government to reach a deal to release captives held in Gaza.

“I call on all mayors in the country to join our measure. The return of the hostages is a national mission that needs to be carried out immediately,” he says.

Kfar Saba Mayor Rafi Saar says municipal offices will close at 3 p.m. today and that his staff will also join the protests.

“We must do everything to bring the hostages home immediately — this is everyone’s responsibility,” Saar says in a statement

Earlier, several restaurants in Tel Aviv and the Lev Cinema chain said they were closing early today to encourage customers to protest.