The head of the Israeli Federation of Trade Unions (Histadrut) called for a general strike tomorrow, Monday, to pressure the government to reach an agreement to return the Israeli hostages who are still being held by the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) in the Gaza Strip.

Arnon Bar-David appealed to all civilian workers to join the strike and said that Ben Gurion Airport, Israel's main air transport hub, would be closed starting at 8 a.m. local time (05:00 GMT), according to Reuters.

Netanyahu is facing criticism in Israel for procrastinating in the ceasefire talks.

The number of detainees that Hamas is demanding to be released is one of the outstanding issues, as the Israeli delegation demanded their exit from Gaza if they are released.

It is noteworthy that several rounds of talks had failed over a period of months to reach an agreement to end the devastating Israeli war in Gaza or to release the remaining Israeli prisoners who were held by Hamas and other Palestinian factions, during their attack on October 7 on Israeli settlements and military bases in Ghalaf. Gaza, which sparked the war that continues to this day.