Airports, schools, banks and hospitals across Israel have closed, as its largest trade union called for a one-day strike to protest over the government’s failure to secure a hostage deal.

Histadrut announced a nationwide strike as public anger escalated following the discovery of the bodies of six Israelis taken captive by Hamas in Gaza over the weekend.

On Sunday night, after half a million people took to the streets in major cities across Israel demanding that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu secure a deal with Hamas to free the captives, the head of the union, Arnon Bar-David, announced a "complete strike" starting Monday.

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

The stoppage was originally set to conclude at 6am on Tuesday, however Israeli media is reporting that Bar-David told the Labour Court in Bat Yam that it would end at 6pm on Monday.