Major tech companies planning to participate in a work stoppage, seeking to put a halt to military conflict
The Israeli hi-tech sector has joined the nationwide economic strike initiated by families of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, as part of a broader protest demanding an end to the ongoing Gaza war and the release of hostages.
The strike, initially scheduled for next Sunday, now includes participation from private companies and workers' unions on August 17. The Hi-Tech Headquarters, which includes hi-tech companies, startups, and venture capital funds, will participate in the strike.
The announcement of the expanded strike was made during a press conference in front of the Kirya military base in Tel Aviv on Sunday morning. The Hi-Tech Headquarters has emphasized the importance of mutual responsibility and the sanctity of life in their support for the strike.
The Hi-Tech Headquarters has also stated their readiness to provide comprehensive assistance in the fight, which they consider to be the most crucial since the establishment of the State. This assistance includes voluntary help for soldiers, evacuees, and those who suffered PTSD in battle during the war.
Thousands of Israelis have donated half a million NIS to support the strike, as stated in a readout. The strike is in solidarity with hostages still held in Gaza, their families, and some of the bereaved families whose loved ones were massacred on October 7, 2023.
The hostage families, represented by the Hostages Families Forum, oppose further military escalation fearing it could cause the death of those still captive. The strike demonstrates solidarity across sectors, including hi-tech, with the hostage families and reflects the public's pressure on the government to negotiate for their release and seek a ceasefire.
The Hi-Tech Headquarters has declared their intention to actively participate in the strike, citing the danger to soldiers and hostages. Another quote from the strike reads, "No more soldiers to waste."
Many of these companies are linked to senior members of the protest headquarters, some of whom have worked together since they began protesting against the judicial reform in early 2023. A quote from the strike reads, "Until they return, it's not Shabbat for us."
Large firms like Wix, Fiverr, Fireblocks, Honeybook, and Natural Intelligence, as well as venture capital funds such as Qumra Capital, Pitango, Disruptive, and NFX, are among the companies joining the strike. The goal of the strike is to force an end to the war in Gaza and prevent Israel from retaking Gaza.
However, Prime Minister Netanyahu has presented five conditions for ending the war, but it is unclear how these conditions will be affected by the strike. Netanyahu’s government, described as the most right-wing in Israeli history, insists on defeating Hamas militarily before any release of hostages or ceasefire, a position opposed by many protesters and hostage families.
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- The Israeli hi-tech sector, in solidarity with the ongoing Gaza war and hostages' release, will join the economic strike on August 17, also including businesses, private companies, and workers' unions, following the lead set by hostage families.
- In a bid to highlight the urgency of resolving the Gaza conflict, the Hi-Tech Headquarters has declared its readiness to provide assistance and has emphasized the importance of mutual responsibility and life sanctity while participating in the strike.
- As the strike garners support from various sectors, the Hi-Tech Headquarters, alongside companies like Wix, Fiverr, and Qumra Capital, aims to force an end to the Gaza war and prevent another military escalation, holding the government accountable for negotiating the hostages' release and seeking a ceasefire.
