Protests rock Israel after the killing of six hostages in Gaza

“HAMAS WILL PAY,” BIDEN SAYS

Amid growing public anger, Israel Trade Union Confederation head Arnon Bar-David on Sunday called for a general strike on Monday to pressure the government to sign an agreement. He said Ben Gurion Airport, Israel's main air hub, would remain closed from 8 a.m. (1 p.m. Singapore time).

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who has often clashed with Netanyahu, also called for an agreement, and opposition leader and former Prime Minister Yair Lapid called on people to join the demonstration in Tel Aviv.

In a final attempt to end the demonstrations, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a hardliner in Israel's security cabinet, called on the Attorney General to ban the strike.

The Hostage Families Forum called on Netanyahu to take responsibility and explain what is preventing an agreement.

The six hostages who were brought home on Sunday “were all murdered in recent days after surviving nearly 11 months of abuse, torture and starvation in Hamas captivity. The delay in signing the agreement has led to their deaths and those of many other hostages,” it said.

Netanyahu's office said he had spoken to the family of Lobanov, whose body was among those recovered, apologized and expressed his “deep sadness.”

But Gat's family said they refused to speak to the prime minister and instead called on Israelis to join the protests.

“Take to the streets and shut down the country until everyone is back. They can still be saved,” wrote Gat's cousin Gil Dickmann on X.