Tel Aviv's mayor sends a letter urging Netanyahu to heed families' pleas against his plan to occupy Gaza City.
MADRID, 16 (EUROPA PRESS)
Israel's leading universities, dozens of organizations, and some 70 local authorities will support the informal strike called for this coming Sunday by families of hostages and those killed during the Gaza war, protesting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's strategy, which could mean certain death for those still alive at the hands of Palestinian militias.
Netanyahu's decision to occupy Gaza City and the camps in the center of the enclave has been harshly criticized by family members who consider the operation a death sentence for the approximately 20 hostages still alive.
Prominent educational institutions such as the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the Technion (Israel Institute of Technology), and the Open University have already declared their support for the strike called by the October Council forum.
Meanwhile, some 75 local authorities signed a letter of support for the strike. Among those signing the letter were Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai and Shay Hajaj, president of the Center for Regional Councils and head of the Merhavim Regional Council in the southern Negev.
"We will support any legal action that reminds decision-makers that the repatriation of the hostages is a supreme national goal," according to a letter reported by the Times of Israel. "We pledge to support the families of the hostages, strengthen them, and echo their cries."
The Federation of Local Authorities has left it up to each municipality to decide whether to join the strike. Meanwhile, Israel's main union, the Histadrut, has also called on employers not to take retaliatory measures against any employees who decide to join the initiative.
