Tel Aviv, Aug 18 (V7N) – Thousands of Israelis participated in a nationwide strike on August 17 to support families of hostages held in Gaza. Demonstrators urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to negotiate with Hamas for an agreement to end the war and secure the release of the remaining captives.
 
Protesters across the country waved Israeli flags, carried portraits of hostages, and sounded whistles, horns, and drums. In several places, they blocked streets and highways, including the key Jerusalem‑Tel Aviv route.
 
Anat Angrest, mother of hostage Matan Angrest, spoke to reporters in a Tel Aviv public square, saying, “On Sunday, everything stops to remember the highest value: the sanctity of life.”
 
Israeli Hollywood actress Gal Gadot—known for her roles in Wonder Woman and the Fast & Furious series—visited families of the hostages in Tel Aviv as part of the solidarity efforts.
 
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