Palestinians Call For Global Strike As Israel Escalates War On Gaza

The Palestinian National and Islamic Forces, a coalition of major Palestinian factions, called for a global strike on Monday (December 11). As part of the strike, supporters of the Palestinian cause skipped public activities, including school and work. People joining the protest are staying home and not going out to places like restaurants, banks, or stores. They're also not buying anything online or making online transactions.

The idea behind the strike is to disrupt the global economy in the hope that it will directly impact people and prompt them to take action to stop the harm happening to Palestinians in Gaza.

Many countries participated in the strike with roads remaining empty and shops and offices closed. According to LBC International: “The Lebanese government adhered to the strike, deciding to close all public institutions and administrations. Closure also extended to official and private schools and universities, banks, currency exchange shops, ports, and gas distribution companies. The closure varied in commercial shops and markets.”

Jordan followed suit, with people staying at home to express their solidarity, leaving the roads empty and devoid of the usual Monday traffic. While thousands also took to the streets in protest, demanding an immediate ceasefire in Amman and other major cities, The New Arab reported.

The call for strike comes at a time when Palestinians endure unspeakable horrors — from being stripped naked and beaten to facing mutilation, rape, and death. The so-called 'safe spaces' are also not safe. Earlier this morning, Israel bombed a UN school that was being used as a shelter, as per a social media post shared by UN ECOSOC representative Mohammad Safa. Hospitals continue to be targets of Israeli airstrikes. The southern Gaza, which was once considered “safe” is also now being battered. “The idea that some places in Gaza are safe is a lie,” Electronic Intifada reported.

“If we do not die from bombing, we will die from cold, hunger and thirst. There is no other form of shelter. Gaza cannot cope with a war so ugly and violent,” Yasser Fares, a resident of Hamad City told The Electronic Intifada.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Gutteres, who had invoked Article 99 of the UN Charter last week, urging the UNSC to “act on the Israel-Palestine crisis”, said he would “not give up” after the US vetoed a UNSC resolution for a ceasefire.

“I urged the Security Council to press to avert a humanitarian catastrophe and I reiterated my appeal for a humanitarian ceasefire to be declared. Regrettably the Security Council failed to do it but that does not make it less necessary. So, I can promise I will not give up,” said Gutteres.

In Gaza, so far about 18,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to Gazan authorities. Around 1.9 million have been internally displaced since the beginning of the war that shows no signs of abating.