General Strike in West Bank Demands End to Gaza War
Prolonged Closure Across Occupied Territory
RAMALLAH: Shuttered storefronts lined empty streets in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank on Monday during a general strike by Palestinians demanding an end to the Gaza war.
"I walked through the city today and couldn’t find a single place that was open," Fadi Saadi, a shopkeeper in Bethlehem, told AFP.
Strike Called by Palestinian Political Movements
Shops, schools and most public administrative offices were closed across the West Bank, which Israel has occupied since 1967. A coalition of Palestinian political movements – including rivals Fatah and Hamas – called the strike to protest what they described as "the genocide and the ongoing massacre of our people."
Solidarity with Gaza
Imad Salman, 68, who owns a souvenir shop in Jerusalem’s Old City, said the closure is for "our family in Gaza, our children in Gaza." He told AFP: "In Jerusalem, in the West Bank, we can’t do something more than what we’re doing here now."
Rally Planned in Ramallah
A rally was planned Monday in the centre of the West Bank city of Ramallah, where the Palestinian Authority has its headquarters. "This time, the strike is serious, and the population’s commitment is significant because Israeli aggression now affects all Palestinian households, whether in the West Bank or Gaza," said Issam Baker, a community organiser in Ramallah.
Violence Soars in West Bank
Since the start of the Gaza war, violence has soared in the West Bank. Israeli troops or settlers have killed at least 918 Palestinians, including militants, in the territory since then, according to health ministry figures. Palestinian attacks and clashes during military raids have killed at least 33 Israelis, including soldiers, over the same period, according to official figures.
Global Protests
Protests also erupted in the Lebanese capital Beirut on Monday in front of the Lebanese American University, with dozens of students gathering around a massive Palestinian flag. In Sidon in southern Lebanon, hundreds demonstrated, shouting "stop the massacres against the Palestinian people" and "stop the war of extermination in Gaza." In the Tunisian capital, hundreds of students demonstrated in front of the French embassy to express solidarity with Palestinians, as French President Emmanuel Macron visited Cairo to discuss Gaza.
Conclusion
The general strike in the West Bank is a powerful display of Palestinian solidarity with those affected by the Gaza war. As the violence continues to escalate, it is essential that the international community takes notice and demands an end to the conflict.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why did Palestinians call a general strike?
A: Palestinians called a general strike to protest the Gaza war and demand an end to the violence.
Q: How widespread was the strike?
A: The strike was widespread, with shops, schools, and most public administrative offices closed across the West Bank.
Q: What is the current situation in the West Bank?
A: The situation in the West Bank is volatile, with violence soaring since the start of the Gaza war. Israeli troops or settlers have killed at least 918 Palestinians, including militants, in the territory since then, while Palestinian attacks and clashes have killed at least 33 Israelis, including soldiers.