Families of hostages held in Gaza and their supporters launched a nationwide strike, blocking major roads and calling for an agreement that would both secure the release of captives and end the war.

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Highways across Israel, including the main route linking Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, were obstructed with burning tires, disrupting traffic in both directions. Similar blockades were reported on Highways 4 and 6. The demonstrations were coordinated by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, which represents relatives of those abducted on October 7, 2023.

In a statement, the Forum announced that families would establish a protest camp along the Gaza border starting Monday. “We are obligated to escalate our struggle and do everything possible to bring back our loved ones. We are losing them, and if we don’t bring them back now, we will lose them forever,” the group declared. The sit-in is planned at what they described as the closest possible point to the hostages, though details remain unspecified.

The strike has received backing from some unions and hundreds of businesses, signaling wider frustration with the government’s handling of the war. At a press conference marking the beginning of the strike, relatives of victims urged Israeli authorities to pursue a comprehensive ceasefire deal. “Without these conditions, we know that the other side will not agree,” said Naomi Abir, whose son, a dual U.S.-Israeli citizen, was killed in the October 7 attack on the Nova music festival.

While the protests unfolded, violence continued in the occupied West Bank. The Palestinian Ministry of Health reported that an 18-year-old was shot dead by Israeli soldiers in a village north of Ramallah following an assault by settlers. The Israeli military confirmed the incident, claiming soldiers responded to stones and Molotov cocktails.

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