‘A day to save lives’: Bereaved families, relatives of hostages launch nationwide strike

Israelis bereaved in the war and the families of hostages launch a nationwide strike to protest the expansion of the war in Gaza rather than striking a deal to free those held by Hamas.

“I’m here this morning to ask every Israeli citizen to act today to save lives,” says Reut Recht-Edri, mother of Ido Edri, who was murdered at the Nova music festival during the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023. “To stop everything, to leave home and to fight for the return of all the hostages, for saving the soldiers, for our state of Israel.”

The strike began this morning and will continue throughout the day with protests and actions at 400 locations across the country, say participants in the press conference, held by the October Council opposite the Kirya military headquarters in Tel Aviv.

It is endorsed by thousands of businesses, local authorities and some unions. Hostages Square in Tel Aviv is expected to see 1 million visitors.

The strike comes after a government decision to expand the war by invading Gaza City. Relatives of hostages are calling on the government instead to end the war with a comprehensive deal to free all of the 50 remaining hostages, at least 20 of whom are thought to be alive.

“We’re united in a simple demand for the government of Israel to put on the table today an Israeli outline for a comprehensive deal to end the war in exchange for the last hostage, ” says Naomi Abir, mother of Lotan, an American-Israeli who was killed at the Nova festival. “Without these conditions, we know the other side won’t accept.”

Lishay Miran Lavi, whose husband Omri is held in Gaza says “today is just the beginning.”

“We intend to escalate the struggle. We have no other choice,” she says.