Huge protests in Israel as public demand deal to release hostages

Tens of thousands of people have rallied across Israel after the bodies of six hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip were recovered by soldiers, causing national outrage.

Protesters, many clad in Israeli flags, descended on cities including Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, demanding that their government reaches a deal to secure the release of the remaining hostages taken by Hamas during the 7 October attacks.

The protests were largely peaceful but in Tel Aviv crowds broke through police lines, blocking a main highway. The demonstrations came as on of Israel's biggest labour unions, Histadrut, called for a nationwide general strike, demanding that the government reach a deal with Hamas.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said earlier that the six bodies were found 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.

News of the deaths fueled the protests, with many Israelis accusing their government of not doing enough to secure the release of the remaining hostages.