Smotrich Reacts to Hisdatrut
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, in a post on social media, harshly criticized the decision of Israel’s largest labor union, Hisdatrut, to go on a general strike tomorrow “demanding an agreement in Gaza” after the bodies of six Israeli prisoners were found in the Gaza Strip. Smotrich accused the union leadership of “looking after the interests of Hamas rather than representing the Israeli workforce” and said, “I instructed the Treasury to cut the salaries of those who participated in the strike on Monday.” The far-right minister called on workers to go to work tomorrow.
Hisdatrut criticized the government’s reluctance to agree to a ceasefire and a prisoner exchange after the bodies of six Israeli prisoners were found in the Gaza Strip, and announced that “a general strike will be held across the country on Monday, September 2.” As part of the strike, it was shared that flights will be suspended at Tel Aviv’s Ben-Gurion Airport, Israel’s gateway to the world, starting at 08:00 local time.
Food and beverage businesses, movie theaters and entertainment venues across the country announced that they would be closing their doors as of Sunday evening in support of the families of prisoners and called on their customers to “join the demonstrations.” In addition, some municipalities and local governments announced that they would join the strike. Law firms stated that they would support those participating in the protests, while it was announced that kindergartens and nurseries would be closed for the day and that schools would have half-day education.
The Israeli army announced that it had found 6 bodies of Israeli prisoners during the clashes in Gaza. The platform formed by the families of Israeli prisoners held in Gaza, on the other hand, held “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who insisted on continuing the occupation of the Philadelphi Corridor on the Gaza-Egypt border and undermined prisoner swap agreements” responsible for the deaths of the 6 Israeli prisoners. Netanyahu, on the other hand, argued that the government was determined to reach an agreement for the release of the remaining prisoners and blamed Hamas for the failure to reach an agreement.
Negotiations have been ongoing for a long time between the parties to stop the attacks that Israel has been carrying out in the Gaza Strip since October 7. Netanyahu is accused by both Israeli and international public opinion of not making a prisoner swap agreement with Hamas for political reasons. It is emphasized that the articles Israel added to the draft agreement and especially its insistence on maintaining control of the “Philadelphi Corridor” on the Egypt-Gaza border have made the negotiations difficult. On the other hand, Israel continues its violence in the Gaza Strip during this process.
