General strike in East Jerusalem: Palestinians protest loudly!

General strike in East Jerusalem: Palestinians protest loudly!

On April 7, 2025, a broad-based general strike took place in East Jerusalem and in the West Bank, which was directed against the ongoing war. Business, schools and most public administrations remained closed, and there was a major rally in Ramallah, the seat of the Palestinian Authority. The protest was organized by an alliance of Palestinian movements, including the Fatah and Hamas, to demonstrate against the supposed "genocide and the continuing massacre" of Palestinians.

Fadi Saadi, a shopkeeper from Bethlehem, reported on the far -reaching closures of the shops. Imad Salman, the souvenir shop owner in Jerusalem, explained that the strike took place in solidarity with the families in the Gaza Strip. The protesting expressed sharp criticism of politics both the Israeli government and the United States, which support the operations in the Gaza conflict.

The situation in the Gaza Strip

The tensions in the region have further tightened since Israel's army resumed the air stripes on the Gaza Strip on March 18 after a short ceasefire. Dozens of fatalities can now be complained about every day. Since the beginning of the Gaza War, 918 Palestinians have been killed in West Bank, including numerous militant fighters. In contrast, only 33 people were killed in Israel.

The deeper context of these protests and the current crisis goes back to the escalations that started in October 2024. On October 31, 2024, Israel attacked a large number of Hezbollah destinations in Lebanon, which further destabilized the situation in the Middle East. Over 150 attacks were reported and the Lebanese Ministry of Health registered more than two dozen victims. In return, around 60 floors from Lebanon fired on Israel, with seven people being killed in Northern Israel. Negotiations on a ceasefire in which the US special envoy Amos Hochstein was involved are still in the room.

international reactions

The international community is increasingly concerned about the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. As part of this concerns, the ban on the Unrwa, which is responsible for more than 5.9 million Palestinians, was decided by Israel in October 2024. This led to important concerns about humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip and documents the difficult situation of the civilian population.

The repeated Israeli air strikes, including the Kamal Adwan Hospital, and the killing of journalists further fueled the tensions in the region. According to reports, more than 42,000 people in the Gaza Strip have lost their lives since the first outbreaks in October.

The tense location reflects a complex and deeply rooted story in the Middle East, in which conflicts have been going on for decades. Historians and analysts see a "darkest moment" in these developments and warn of the possible consequences of further escalating violence. In the current situation, the international efforts for peace seem to fuel hope rather than provide practical results.

The demonstrations and strikes in East Jerusalem and West Bank are not only an expression of the protest, but also an urgent appeal to the international community to work more effectively for ceasefire and humanitarian aid.