Image source, Reuters

On Saturday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it found the bodies of six hostages in an underground tunnel in the Rafah area of southern Gaza.

The hostages were identified as Carmel Gat, Eden Yerushalmi, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Alexander Lobanov, Almog Sarusi and Master Sgt Ori Danino.

The IDF said they had been killed shortly before its troops reached them, however Hamas says they were killed in an Israeli attack.

Their discovery triggered widespread protests, with crowds accusing the government and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu personally of failing to save the remaining hostages.

As we mentioned earlier, today's general strike follows a night of huge protests.

Tens of thousands rallied yesterday in major cities across Israel to protest against what is seen as the government's failure to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas.

The protests were largely peaceful, but some protesters broke through police lines and blocked a major highway in Tel Aviv.

Others set fires on the road and draped yellow ribbons - a sign of solidarity with the hostages.

In Jerusalem, a huge crowd gathered outside the prime minister's office.

"We hope that those who make the decisions will wake up," said Eli Shtivi, whose son Idan is currently being held hostage in Gaza.

"We don't have time any more."

Histadrut - one of the country's most powerful unions - announced the one-day strike yesterday, to put pressure on the government to bring back the remaining Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.

Union leader Arnon Bar-David said a deal to return the surviving hostages "is more important than anything else".

"We are getting body bags instead of a deal," he said.

The action is expected to impact transport lines, various businesses and schools.

It remains unclear how widely the action will be observed, after several cities and municipalities announced they would not take part.

Image source, Reuters

A nationwide general strike is set to begin this morning in Israel, after a night of protests over what is seen as the government's failure to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas.

Tensions have been high since the bodies of six hostages were recovered on Saturday.

Tens of thousands of people rallied across Israel yesterday, accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of not doing enough to reach a deal for the release of those that remain captive.

Stay with us for updates and analysis.

We're pausing our live coverage, but you can follow the latest developments here.

• Protests are underway in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem with plans for a general strike tomorrow
• It comes after the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) recovered the bodies of six hostages in an underground tunnel in southern Gaza

• Protesters are urging the government to reach a deal with Hamas to release those held in Gaza

• Israel's health ministry said "close-range gunshots" killed the six hostages
• Earlier, Netanyahu said Israel will not "rest" until it catches those responsible. He said this morning "whoever murders hostages - does not want a deal". Senior Hamas officials said that Israel, in its refusal to sign a ceasefire agreement, was to blame

Alice Cuddy
Reporting from Tel Aviv

On the edge of the protest I’ve just been speaking to 24-year-old Yotam Peer, whose 21-year-old brother was killed on 7 October.

This is the first time since the war that he has attended a demonstration.

“After we heard about the six hostages we couldn’t be silent anymore. It’s really important. We don’t have a choice anymore,” he says, adding “it’s exceeded the limit.”

Like others here, he says he wants prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to step down and for a deal to be struck to bring the hostages home.

Next to Yotam, a line of policemen on horseback are watching the protesters.

Earlier today, protesters blocked the Ayalon main highway in Tel Aviv - urging the government to reach a deal with Hamas to release the hostages held in Gaza.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Alice Cuddy
Reporting from Tel Aviv

There are thousands of people here in Tel Aviv joining the mass demonstration, many waving Israeli flags.

Ido, 78, tells me he regularly protests for the release of the hostages but this is the biggest one he has been at in a long time.

“You could hardly get into the train and hardly get out,” he says, adding “it’s huge and we are at the tail end - this is not the main event”.

Two other protesters tell me that the death of the six hostages needs to signal a turning point.

“We want a deal that brings the hostages back home,” Robi, 25, says.

But his friend Rom adds “we don’t trust Netanyahu to make this deal”.

As we reported a little earlier, thousands of Israelis have protested outside the office of prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem - after the bodies of six hostages were recovered from southern Gaza.

The German chancellor says he is filled "with sadness and anger" after the bodies of six hostages were recovered in an underground tunnel in southern Gaza.

In a post on X, external, Olaf Scholz adds that one of those killed had "a connection to Germany", and that Hamas "are responsible".

Israel's health ministry says the six hostages, whose bodies were recovered from southern Gaza, were killed by "close-range gunshots".

"According to the forensic examination, the hostages' deaths are estimated to have occurred approximately 48-72 hours before their examination," spokesperson Shira Solomon adds.

Alice Cuddy
Reporting from Israel

The train from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv is full of protesters making their way to tonight’s planned mass demonstration.

Some are wearing black T-shirts that say, “bring them home now” or carrying signs and flags. Others are wearing yellow ribbons in solidarity with the hostages and their families.

The Hostage Families Forum says a “massive demonstration” will begin in Tel Aviv at 19:00 local time (17:00 BST).

It comes after the bodies of six hostages were recovered from a tunnel in southern Gaza.

Families are calling for a deal to be reached immediately to secure the release of those still held captive.

The mayor of Tel Aviv says the municipality will join tomorrow's strikes, he says in a post on X, external.

Ron Huldai goes on in the social media post to say the Israeli government "abandoned" the six hostages whose bodies were recovered from an underground tunnel in southern Gaza.

He adds that the strike action is a "sign of solidarity" with the hostages and their families, calling for people to take to the streets from morning until noon.

Image source, Reuters

Pressure is mounting on Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to negotiate a deal with Hamas for the immediate release of hostages held in Gaza.

It comes after the bodies of six hostages were found in an underground tunnel in Rafah in southern Gaza, sparking anger from their families.

If you're just joining us now, here are some of the key moments from the last few hours:

• Hostage families are gathering outside Netanyahu's office in Jerusalem and on the streets of Tel Aviv to put pressure on the government for a hostage release deal
• The Israeli trade union federation - Histadrut - has confirmed it will take part in a general strike on Monday
• This comes after the Hostages and Missing Families Forum has urged the general public to participate in a "massive demonstration" that it says should "halt the country"
• Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid is is also among those calling for strike action to force the government to act
• Earlier, Netanyahu said Israel will not "rest" until it catches those responsible for killing the six hostages

We're going to continue to follow this developing story closely while our correspondents in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv provide live updates on this afternoon's demonstrations. Stay with us.

Lucy Williamson
Reporting from Jerusalem

Image source, Getty Images

Thousands of people have gathered outside the prime minister’s office in Jerusalem, shouting, “Murderer!” and demanding the return of all the hostages with the slogan, “Everyone! Now!”.

There is a sea of Israeli flags, some of them altered to include a yellow ribbon – the symbol of the hostage families; and poster-size portraits of the six men and women whose bodies were brought back from Gaza today.

Waved high above the crowd, a vast red flag – a sign, the hostage families have said, that the final red line had been crossed.

There are quiet tears from some here, but also a lot of anger – one woman says it felt like October all over again.

This movement has been calling for months on prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to sign a ceasefire deal and get the remaining hostages home.

But many here believe Netanyahu simply doesn’t want a deal – and if a deal is not longer possible, they fear, then the hostages are no longer valuable to Hamas.

Image source, Reuters

Israel's Defence Minister Yoav Gallant is urging Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to negotiate a ceasefire with Hamas to bring the remaining hostages home from Gaza

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Gallant says it's "too late for the abductees who were murdered in cold blood".

"The abductees who remain in the captivity of Hamas must be returned home."

His plea comes after the bodies of six hostages were recovered in an underground tunnel in Rafah in southern Gaza.

Image source, Reuters

As we've just reported, Histadrut - one of the most powerful trade unions in Israel - is now calling for a general strike to take place tomorrow amid growing calls for the government to reach a deal to return hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza.

The head of the union, Arnon Bar-David, says that Ben Gurion Airport will be closed from 08:00 local time (06:00 BST).

The strike itself is planned to start at 06:00 local time (04:00 BST) and will last for one day.

Israel's national broadcaster, Kan, is reporting on details from Bar-David's recent statement, including that he says the "abandonment" of hostages must stop.

The Israeli trade union federation - Histadrut - will take part in a general strike on Monday, Reuters news agency reports.

Labor Federation chairman Arnon Bar-David was set to meet families of hostages at 16:00 local time (14:00 BST) at his organisation’s headquarters in Tel Aviv, Israeli media reports.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum had earlier asked the country's most powerful union to participate in the strike after calling on the general public "to join a massive demonstration".

Families of hostages are calling for a nationwide strike in an effort to force the Israeli government to negotiate for the release of hostages still held captive in Gaza.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum is asking the "public to join a massive demonstration, demanding a complete halt of the country and the immediate implementation of a deal to release the hostages".

It comes after the Israeli military found the bodies of six hostages in a tunnel in the southern Gaza city of Rafah on Saturday.

The campaign group is urging Israelis to demonstrate in Tel Aviv on Sunday and asked the country's powerful Histadrut union to participate in the strike, according to news agency AFP.

Several business are joining the strike with cinema chain Lev and restaurants saying they will close in solidarity on Sunday evening.

Families and friends of the hostages have been holding weekly anti-government demonstrations since 251 people were taken captive on 7 October after Hamas carried out a deadly attack on southern Israel that killed about 1,200 people.

More than 40,738 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry.

Image source, Getty Images

Demonstrations are being staged in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem today, as people across the country are urging the Israeli government to reach a deal with Hamas for the immediate return of hostages held in Gaza.

Here, a large group has begun gathering outside the prime minister's office in Jerusalem.

Earlier, Benjamin Netanyahu said that the government would not "rest" until it caught those responsible for killing the six hostages whose bodies were recovered from inside Gaza on Saturday.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Getty Images