Pressure is mounting inside Israel against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s planned military operation to capture Gaza City. Following large protests last weekend, both the opposition and families of hostages held in Gaza are calling for fresh demonstrations and a nationwide strike this Sunday.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid urged citizens to join the strike in solidarity with the Israeli hostages taken on October 7, who remain in the hands of Hamas and its ally, Islamic Jihad. Writing on social media platform X, Lapid called on “even those who support the government” to take part, stressing that the appeal is “not a matter of politics, but solidarity.”

“The families asked for this… and that alone is reason enough,” he said, aligning himself with calls initially made by relatives of the captives.

The Hostages’ Families Forum, the main group representing relatives of those held in Gaza, has urged that the country “come to a standstill” on Sunday. Around 20 family members had already issued a similar call on August 10.

However, Israel’s largest labor union, Histadrut, has decided against initiating a full economic shutdown at this stage. Instead, it has pledged to support workers’ solidarity rallies planned for the same day, according to the Forum.