Israel’s main union has ordered a nationwide general strike after soldiers recovered the bodies of six killed hostages from the Gaza Strip where the military is battling Hamas, AFP reports.

On Sunday evening, tens of thousands of Israelis gathered in the streets of Tel Aviv and other cities to protest the government and call for a hostage release deal.

Campaign group the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said a negotiated “deal for the return of the hostages” was urgently needed.

“Were it not for the delays, sabotage and excuses” in months of mediation efforts, the six hostages “would likely still be alive”, a statement said.

The families called for a nationwide general strike to force the government to reach a deal. Shortly afterwards, the head of Israel’s powerful Histadrut trade union ordered a “complete strike” on Monday in support of the hostages.

“I have come to the conclusion that only our intervention can shake those who need to be shaken,” Histadrut chair Arnon Bar-David said in a statement.“A deal is not progressing due to political considerations and this is unacceptable.”