General strike in East Jerusalem: Palestinians protest loudly!

General strike in East Jerusalem: Palestinians protest loudly!

On April 7, 2025, a widespread general strike took place in East Jerusalem and the West Bank against the ongoing war. Shops, schools and most public administrations remained closed, and there was a large rally in Ramallah, the headquarters of the Palestinian Authority. The protest was organized by an alliance of Palestinian movements, including Fatah and Hamas, to demonstrate against the alleged "genocide and ongoing massacre" of Palestinians.

Fadi Saadi, a shopkeeper from Bethlehem, reported on the widespread closures of shops. Imad Salman, the souvenir shop owner in Jerusalem, said the strike was in solidarity with families in the Gaza Strip. The protesters expressed strong criticism of the policies of both the Israeli government and the US, which support operations in the Gaza conflict.

The situation in the Gaza Strip

Tensions in the region have continued to escalate since Israel's army resumed airstrikes on the Gaza Strip on March 18 following a brief ceasefire. Dozens of deaths are now being reported every day. Since the start of the Gaza war, 918 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank, including many militants. In contrast, only 33 people died in Israel.

The deeper context of these protests and the current crisis goes back to the escalations that began in October 2024. On October 31, 2024, Israel attacked a variety of Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, further destabilizing the situation in the Middle East. Over 150 attacks were reported and the Lebanese Ministry of Health recorded more than two dozen victims. In return, around 60 projectiles were fired from Lebanon into Israel, killing seven people in northern Israel. Negotiations on a ceasefire, in which US special envoy Amos Hochstein was involved, are still pending.

International reactions

The international community is becoming increasingly concerned about the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. As part of these concerns, Israel decided to ban UNRWA, which is responsible for more than 5.9 million Palestinians, in October 2024. This raised serious concerns about humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip and documented the difficult situation facing the civilian population.

Repeated Israeli airstrikes, including on Kamal Adwan Hospital, and the killing of journalists have further inflamed tensions in the region. According to reports, more than 42,000 people have lost their lives in the Gaza Strip since the first outbreaks in October.

The tense situation reflects a complex and deep-rooted history in the Middle East, where conflict has been ongoing for decades. Historians and analysts see these developments as a “darkest moment” and warn of the possible consequences of a further escalation of violence. In the current situation, international efforts for peace seem to be more likely to stoke hope than to deliver practical results.

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