A rare call for a general strike in Israel to protest the failure to return hostages held in Gaza has led to closures and other disruptions around the country, including at its main international airport.
However, it was ignored in some areas, reflecting deep political divisions.
Hundreds of thousands of Israelis poured into the streets late on Sunday in grief and anger after six hostages were found dead in Gaza.
The families and much of the public blamed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying they could have been returned alive in a deal with Hamas to end the nearly 11-month-old war.
But others support Netanyahu's strategy of maintaining military pressure on Hamas, whose October 7 attack into Israel triggered the war.
They say it will eventually force the militants to give in to Israeli demands, potentially facilitate rescue operations and ultimately annihilate the group.
A labour court ruled the strike must end by 2.30pm on Monday, accepting the government's argument that it was politically motivated.
Israel’s largest trade union, the Histadrut, had called for the general strike, which aimed to shut down or disrupt major sectors of the economy, including banking, health care and the country’s main airport.
Airlines at Israel’s main international airport, Ben-Gurion, were halting outgoing flights between 8am and 10am.
Arriving flights were continuing as usual during that time, according to the Israel Airports Authority.
The Histadrut said banks, some large shopping centres and government offices joined the strike, as were some public transit services, although there did not appear to be any major disruptions.
Municipalities in Israel’s populated central area, including Tel Aviv, were taking part in the strike, leading to shortened school hours.
Many municipalities, however, including Jerusalem, were not taking part.
The demonstrations on Sunday appeared to be the largest since the start of the war, with organisers estimating up to 500,000 people joined nationwide events and the main rally in Tel Aviv.
Israeli media estimated 200,000 to 400,000 took part.
They demanded Netanyahu reach a deal to return the remaining roughly 100 hostages held in Gaza, even if it means leaving a battered Hamas intact and withdrawing from the territory.
Many Israelis support this position, but others prioritise the destruction of the militant group over freedom for the hostages.
Netanyahu has pledged “total victory” over Hamas and blames it for the failure of the negotiations.
Israel said the six hostages found dead in Gaza were killed by Hamas shortly before Israeli forces arrived in the tunnel where they were being held.
Three of them were reportedly scheduled to be released in the first phase of a ceasefire proposal discussed in July.
The Israeli health ministry said autopsies had determined the hostages were shot at close range and died on Thursday or Friday.
Netanyahu blamed Hamas, saying "whoever murders hostages doesn’t want a deal”.
Hamas blamed their deaths on Israel and the United States, accusing them of dragging out the talks by issuing new demands, including for lasting Israeli control over two strategic corridors in Gaza.
Hamas has offered to release the hostages in return for an end to the war, the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces and the release of a large number of Palestinian prisoners, including high-profile militants.
One of the six hostages was Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, who lost part of his left arm to a grenade in the October 7 attack.
He was one of the best-known hostages, and his parents had led a high-profile campaign for the captives' release, meeting President Joe Biden and Pope Francis, and addressing the Democratic National Convention in August.
Biden said he was “devastated and outraged”.
Some 250 hostages were taken on October 7.
More than 100 were freed during a ceasefire in November in exchange for the release of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.
Eight have been rescued by Israeli forces.
Israeli troops mistakenly killed three Israelis who escaped captivity in December.
Hamas-led militants killed some 1200 people, mostly civilians, when they stormed into southern Israel on October 7.
Israel’s retaliatory offensive in Gaza has killed more than 40,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials, who do not say how many were militants.
