Following the discovery of six dead hostages in Gaza, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has refused to back down on his calls for a cease-fire with Hamas. Netanyahu reaffirmed his commitment to securing the release of captives and dismissed any criticism about it, claiming that no one is more committed to their cause than he is.
Netanyahu's insistence on preserving Israeli sovereignty over the Philadelphi Corridor, a critical section along the Gaza-Egypt border, has been a major source of disagreement in the negotiations. Israel says that Hamas uses this passage to carry weapons, which Egypt and Hamas deny.
The discovery of the hostages' bodies prompted massive public demonstrations in Israel, including a general workers' strike aimed at pressuring the government to finalize a cease-fire deal. The strike led to significant disruptions across various sectors, though it was cut short after a court ruling determined insufficient notice was given by the Histadrut union.
