Shops, schools and government offices have been closed in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem as Palestinians stage a general strike to protest Israel’s continued bombing of the Gaza Strip.
Gaza’s bloodiest war ever has killed more than 18,000 Palestinians in two months, most of them women and children. Nearly 50,000 people were injured in what some countries called a “genocide.”
The National and Islamic Forces, a coalition of major Palestinian factions, called for a general strike on Monday by West Bank residents and their supporters around the world.
Many Palestinians closed their businesses and rallies took place, according to Essam Abu Baker, who coordinates Palestinian factions in Ramallah.
“Al-Manara Square, often seen as a venue for anti-war protests, was filled today (Monday) with one of the largest crowds we have seen in some time,” reported Zein Basravi d ‘Tel Aviv Tribune from Ramallah.
“There were people of all ages here. The children decorated a canvas with messages of love for Gaza. They drew Palestinian flags,” he said.
Basravi said the strike and demonstration aimed to remind people that Palestinians in Gaza are linked to those in the West Bank. “Raising your voice is the least you can do. In some cases, that’s all they can do,” he said.
“One chant we heard was: ‘We will die so that Palestine can live.’ There were some pro-Hamas chants. There were chants against (Palestinian Authority) President Mahmoud Abbas, calling on him to do more,” he added.
“We also heard people say things like, ‘Put the bullet in the barrel and shoot us.’ We are not afraid.’”
