Cities, towns, and refugee camps across the occupied West Bank came to a standstill on Monday as Palestinians launched a sweeping general strike in protest against Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza.
Shops remained shut, schools and banks closed, and transportation services ground to a halt as the region united in a powerful show of solidarity with the people of Gaza.
The call for the strike came from various Palestinian national and Islamic groups, who urged citizens across all areas of life, including those in the diaspora, to participate. Their aim was to raise global awareness of the deadly situation in Gaza and demand an end to what they described as the systematic displacement of Palestinians through violence and destruction.
The strike was not just about shutting down daily life. Protest marches were also planned throughout the day, as communities voiced anger and grief over the rising death toll in Gaza. The action served as both a tribute to those lost and a plea to the international community to act.
The protest follows Israel’s resumption of attacks on Gaza, which began again in March after a brief ceasefire that had started in January. The violence has intensified since, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promising more operations amid the wider implementation of a controversial displacement plan backed by US President Donald Trump.
The human cost in Gaza continues to rise. Since the start of the Israeli offensive in October 2023, more than 50,700 Palestinians have been killed, many of them women and children. The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Israel is also under scrutiny at the International Court of Justice, where it faces a genocide case tied to its conduct in Gaza.
The Palestinian strike is a direct response to what many view as international failure to stop the violence or hold the Israeli government accountable. Protesters hope the global echo of their action will put pressure on world powers to intervene and stop the suffering in Gaza.