While the Israelis across the country blocked the roads on Sunday and called at the end of the war and a hostage liberation agreement, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the national strike was making a ceasefire with less likely Hamas.
The remarks were welcomed by the anger of the hostages families, who accused the Prime Minister of lying to the public.
“Those who call today to put an end to war without defeating Hamas do not only harden the position of Hamas and distance the release of our hostages, they also ensure that the atrocities of October 7 will repeat themselves again and again, and that our sons and daughters will have to fight again and again in an endless war,” Netanyahu said at the start of the meeting of the cabinet.
“To progress in the release of our hostages and to ensure that Gaza will no longer be a threat to Israel, we must finish the mission and defeat Hamas,” he continued, in the comments published by the Prime Minister’s office.
Netanyahu said that he remained “determined to implement” the decision of the security firm adopted earlier this month, calling on the FDI to conquer the city of Gaza, which was the impetus of Sunday’s strike.
The general strike was organized by the October Council, which represents certain members of the hostage family and those who are killed on October 7 as well as survivors of the attack who believe that the war against Hamas in Gaza must end, the hostages must be brought home, and the leaders of Israel must take responsibility for failure to prevent the slaughter led by Hamas.
The Israelis block the Route 1 highway near Latrun during a demonstration calling for the release of the hostages on August 17, 2025. (Yonatan Sindel / Flash90)
Netanyahu said that Hamas continues to refuse the conditions of Israel for the end of the war in Gaza: “We insist that Hamas is disarmed, but also that Israel applies the demilitarization of the band over time through continuous action against any attempt to reset or organization by any group of terroris.”
He stressed that Hamas wanted Israel to leave Gaza entirely, especially by leaving the Philadelphi corridor along the Gaza-Egypt border and the security perimeter around Gaza.
“This would allow Hamas to regroup, rearm and tackle us again,” said Netanyahu.
His comments echoed those of a number of ministers in his coalition, who accused the demonstrators and attackers of the sowing division and the reinforcement of Hamas on Sunday.
Hundreds of local authorities, businesses, universities, technology companies and other organizations have joined the strike or allowed employees to join if they wished, although Histadrut, Central Labor Union, refused to join him officially. The demonstrators blocked roads and junctions in dozens of locations across the country on Sunday, with current demonstrations during the day.
In a press release, the Families des Otages Forum – an umbrella organization that represents the majority of families of those who are still in captivity – have accused Netanyahu of lying to the public and rejecting the opportunities to bring their loved ones home.
“Netanyahu, for 22 months, the hostages languish in Gaza – on your watch,” said the group. “Instead of deceiving the public, disseminating and slandering the families of the hostages, bringing our loved ones back into an agreement and ending the war.”
The demonstrators demanding a hostage and cease-fire accusation block begin the highway in Jerusalem on August 17, 2025. (Charlie Summers / Times of Israel)
The group added that “today everyone in Israel already knows that there were many opportunities to bring the hostages back. The one who torpedoed, rejected and avoided (an agreement) is the one who increased the price. ”
Netanyahu has always rejected growing allegations that he refused to accept a number of ceasefire transactions that could have obtained the release of hostages at several times in the past two years. The Prime Minister argues that Hamas has made impossible requests and has repeatedly moved from the negotiating table.
“They were kidnapped from the country of Israel under your responsibility, Netanyahu, and they have been there for 22 months,” added the press release from the Otages Forum. “The responsibility of bringing them home is yours.”
The forum said that “hundreds of thousands” have joined the demonstrations on Sunday and “thousands of large and small businesses closed their doors to allow their workers to join the clear call: solidarity, mutual responsibility and bring our loved ones … People voted today with their feet and said in a clear voice: bringing hostages and soldiers to the house.”
Fifty hostages remain in captivity in Gaza – 49 of the 251 hostages taken on October 7 and the body of a soldier who was killed in 2014.
In the first cease-fire contract in November 2023, 105 hostages were released by Hamas, and 30 others were released in another agreement in January and February 2025 alongside the bodies of eight hostages killed who were returned to Israel. Five other hostages were released outside of these agreements, while eight were rescued by TSAhal troops and the bodies of 49 captives were recovered from Gaza throughout the war.
