Israeli court orders halt to major strike

Israel’s Labor Court has ordered an end to a nationwide general strike by 14:30 local time. The strike, which resulted in the suspension of flights at Ben Gurion Airport and road blockages in Tel Aviv, was initiated to push for a negotiation on hostages in Gaza. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich argued the strike lacks a legal basis, suggesting it interferes with national security decisions. The strike was led by Histadrut, representing 800,000 members following the finding of six dead hostages in Gaza. After the court ruling, Histadrut urged members to return to work and called on the government to act on the hostage situation. Negotiations for a ceasefire have been unstable, with Hamas refusing an agreement until Israel withdraws from Gaza, including the Philadelphi Corridor.