More than 300 demonstrations are expected throughout the day as hostages families try to bring the nation to a standstill. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that the nationwide strikes in support of the hostages in Hamas captivity on Sunday were delaying their release and preventing the war from coming to an end.

Many Israelis feel that freeing the hostages cannot happen if the government refuses to come to terms with Hamas and pursues its policy of trying to eliminate the group militarily.

TEL AVIV/JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Thousands of Israelis took part in a nationwide strike on Sunday in support of families of hostages held in Gaza, calling on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reach an agreement with Hamas to end the war and release the remaining captives.