Israel disruption as strike and protests push for Gaza hostage deal

Israel's biggest trade union has said hundreds of thousands of people joined the general strike it called to put pressure on the government to agree a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal with Hamas.

Businesses, schools and transport were disrupted before a court ordered everyone to return to work, ruling that Histadrut’s strike was largely political.

Thousands also took part in fresh protests called by hostages' families to express their anger at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's failure to bring home their loved ones after almost 11 months.

Tensions have been running high since the bodies of six hostages were found on Saturday. Israel said they were shot and killed by Hamas.