A group of family members of Israeli captives has announced plans for a nationwide strike on August 17 to protest against the government’s aims to expand the war on Gaza, Al Jazeera reports, citing Israeli media.

The general strike — involving private firms, labour unions and citizens allied with the cause — aims to stop economic activities for the day, Israel’s Arutz Sheva media reported.

Anat Angrest, the mother of an Israeli captive, urged the public to join the strike. “That’s why I’m here today to ask for what I’ve avoided until now, to ask the leaders of the economy. You have the power. Your silence is killing our children,” she said at a news conference, according to Arutz Sheva.

Reut Recht-Edri, whose son Ido Edri was killed during the October 7, 2023, attacks on southern Israel, was quoted by The Times of Israel as saying: “We will all pause next Sunday and say: ‘Enough. Stop the war. Return the hostages.’ It is in our hands.”