Israel-Hamas war live updates: Labor strike begins as hostage deaths fuel angry protests demanding Gaza cease-fire

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Israelis launch nationwide strike in push for cease-fire deal

Reporting from London

Israelis have launched the country’s first nationwide general strike since Oct. 7, amid widespread fury over the government’s failure to agree to a Gaza cease-fire deal after the bodies of six hostages were found in the enclave over the weekend.

Histadrut, Israel’s biggest trade union, ordered the nationwide strike from 6 a.m. local time, with the action expected to last at least one day and shut down much of the country’s economy.

The strike is expected to shut government offices, schools and private businesses, while flights were also briefly halted from Israel’s international airport.

The strike is expected to bring much of Israel’s economy to a grinding halt as Netanyahu faces mounting pressure to strike a deal with Hamas that would secure the release of hostages who remain held in Gaza and bring Israel’s deadly offensive in the enclave to an end.