Israeli officials push against strike, hail court decision to end it
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Israeli officials claim the general strike initiated over the Israeli captives held in Gaza is "political" and hail a court decision ending it.
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Israeli settlers protest, calling for a deal to release the captives held in Gaza, in Tel Aviv, occupied Palestine, Sunday, September 1, 2024 (AP)
The Israeli occupation's Labor Court has ordered an end to the general strike called by the Histadrut Labor Federation. The decision, hailed by numerous senior government officials, comes amid escalating tensions within "Israel" as settlers demand a prisoner exchange deal to get Israeli captives out of Gaza.
Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich expressed strong support for the court's ruling, labeling the strike as "political and illegal."
He praised the large number of Israelis who went to work, emphasizing that they are "no longer slaves to political needs." Smotrich also warned against actions that could harm the Israeli economy, suggesting that such harm would serve the interests of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.
Far-right Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir also commended the court's decision, thanking the judiciary for halting what he termed a "political strike."
The Israeli occupation forces announced Sunday, that they had found the bodies of six Israeli captives in a tunnel in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip. Among the deceased is Israeli-American captive Hirsch Goldberg-Polin. Israeli media reported that the IOF estimates suggest the six captives were killed during recent operations near the tunnels where they were found.
The news of the captives' deaths has sparked widespread anger among settlers in various parts of the occupied Palestinian territories. There are calls for a strike on Monday, with roads to be blocked and people urged to take to the streets in a bid to pressure Netanyahu into negotiating a deal to return the remaining captives.
Israelis demand protests
Despite the ruling, Histadrut Labor Federation chair Arnon Bar-David expressed respect for the court's decision but defended the strike as a "significant measure."
He emphasized that the strike was a show of solidarity and not a political act, asserting that "hundreds of thousands of citizens voted with their feet."
Meanwhile, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum urged for the continuation of protests despite the strike's end, criticizing the government for abandoning the 101 captives still held in Gaza. The forum's statement referred to a recent cabinet decision to support the Israel occupation forces' continued operations along the Philadelphi Corridor.
A video released by the al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, accuses the Israeli occupation forces of deliberately killing captives before returning their bodies, confirming rumors that these captives were supposed to be released in the first stage of the captive exchange deal being discussed during the mediated ceasefire talks.
The video also responds to a recent statement by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said, "If I had to choose between Philadelphi and retrieving the prisoners, I would choose Philadelphi."
The video ends with footage of Israeli airstrikes on various locations in Gaza, images of the deceased captives, and the statement, "Netanyahu chose the Philadelphi Corridor over the liberation of your captives."
Calls for jailing opposition
Housing and Construction Minister Yitzhak Goldknopf suggested that those who accuse Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of murder, specifically opposition leader Yair Lapid, should be jailed.
Goldknopf's comments, leaked from a cabinet meeting, were in response to Lapid's criticism of the government's handling of the captives' situation.
Lapid fired back, rejecting any "moral preaching" from Goldknopf or other government ministers. He accused the government of abandoning the captives to die in captivity, holding every coalition minister accountable for what he termed their "legacy" of failure to protect Israeli settlers.
The opposition leader had called on labor unions, employers, and local authorities within the Israeli occupation to disrupt the economy. He also petitioned the Knesset speaker to hold an emergency general meeting to discuss reaching an agreement regarding Gaza.
He also criticized Netanyahu and his cabinet, saying, "Netanyahu and the death council decided not to save the six hostages who were alive in Gaza. While there are still hostages alive in the Strip, it is still possible to reach an agreement, but Netanyahu is reluctant for political reasons." He added, "Israel is collapsing, and it is impossible to continue like this."
