West Bank general strike protests Israel's Gaza offensive

Palestinian factions lead nationwide shutdown as anger grows over Gaza casualties and international silence.

Palestinians observe a general strike with shops closed and daily activities halted in Hebron, southern West Bank, on April 7, 2025. Photo by Mosab Shawer/Middle East Images

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

The West Bank general strike protests Israel's Gaza offensive in a bold and unified show of defiance, as Palestinians across the territory shut down daily life to mourn the dead and denounce what they describe as war crimes. From Ramallah to Hebron, cities fell quiet on Monday, April 7, as a wide-reaching strike led by Palestinian factions brought schools, shops, and transportation to a complete halt.

Organized by the Palestinian National and Islamic Forces, the strike comes as the death toll in Gaza continues to climb amid an intensified Israeli military campaign. According to Gaza health authorities, 56 Palestinians were killed and 137 more injured in the past 24 hours alone. Since the start of the offensive in October 2023, more than 50,000 people have died and over 115,000 have been wounded.

In Ramallah, the political and administrative center of the West Bank, hundreds took to the streets waving Palestinian flags and chanting slogans demanding an end to the bloodshed. Their voices echoed down empty avenues, where shops were shuttered, classrooms deserted, and public transportation silenced.

Strike echoes pain and resistance

The mood was somber but resolute. For many, the strike was more than just a political gesture — it was a moral obligation. "We cannot carry on with business as usual while our people are being massacred in Gaza," said Leila Saadeh, a university student who joined the morning march in Ramallah.

Palestinian leaders say the aim of the strike is to shine a light on what they call Israel’s systematic campaign of destruction and to highlight the silence—or complicity—of global powers, especially the United States.

Issam Bakr, the coordinator of the Palestinian National and Islamic Forces, told Xinhua News Agency that the strike serves as a direct condemnation of "Israel's crimes against humanity" and the "American support that enables these actions to continue." He added that while the world watches Gaza burn, the Palestinian people are calling for urgent international intervention.

Gaza’s staggering toll

The numbers coming out of Gaza are harrowing. Health officials in the enclave report a total death toll of 50,752, with 115,475 people injured since Israel began its full-scale offensive on October 7, 2023. Those figures continue to rise daily.

The most recent escalation began after Israel ended a temporary ceasefire in January. Since then, its forces have carried out relentless airstrikes and ground assaults across the Strip. In the past 20 days alone, Gaza-based officials say more than 1,300 people have been killed and thousands more wounded.

Hospitals, already devastated by a crippling blockade and weeks of bombardment, are barely functioning. Gaza's health authorities reported Monday that 37 percent of essential medicines are now completely unavailable. Additionally, 59 percent of medical equipment and supplies are no longer operational due to Israeli attacks on hospitals, clinics, and supply warehouses.

"The health system is collapsing under the pressure," said Dr. Hani Murad, a surgeon working at a makeshift trauma center in northern Gaza. "We are using expired medicines, reusing gauze, and performing surgeries with minimal anesthesia."

Regional solidarity and international protests

Protests were not limited to the West Bank. According to Issam Bakr, demonstrations in solidarity with Palestinians also took place in several Arab countries. The Palestinian news agency WAFA reported large rallies in Tunisia, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon.

In Amman, thousands of Jordanians gathered outside the U.S. Embassy demanding an end to American support for Israel. In Beirut, Lebanese protesters held a candlelight vigil near the Martyrs' Square, reading out the names of Palestinian children killed in Gaza.

Social media amplified the message even further, with hashtags like #StrikeForGaza and #StopTheGenocide trending across Arabic-speaking platforms. These online movements helped mobilize support in diaspora communities around the world, from Paris to São Paulo.

Shops and schools close in mass participation

What made Monday’s general strike particularly striking was its breadth. In every major West Bank city, local businesses joined the call, closing their doors in a unified act of protest.

Bank branches and government offices were dark, their doors locked from the early morning hours. Universities canceled lectures, and primary schools sent children home the day before in anticipation of the strike. Transportation hubs, usually bustling with movement, stood still as taxis, buses, and even shared vans stayed off the roads.

"This is not just symbolic," said Sami Qassem, a shop owner in Nablus. "This is economic resistance. Every minute we close, we send a message to Israel and the world: We won’t stay silent."

Growing frustration with global powers

There is a palpable sense of frustration in Palestinian society — not just at Israel, but at the broader international community. Many feel abandoned by the United Nations, Western governments, and even Arab states that have normalized ties with Israel in recent years.

"The United Nations issues statements, but children continue to die," said activist Rasha Khalil during a televised interview in Bethlehem. "The EU sends aid, but where is the political will to stop the bombs?"

The United States, long a key ally of Israel, is drawing particular ire. American weapons and financial aid continue to flow, even as images of destruction flood global media outlets. Demonstrators in Ramallah held up placards that read, “Made in USA,” over photos of bombed-out schools and homes in Gaza.

The cost of resistance

Despite the moral clarity many Palestinians feel, the cost of resistance is high. Israeli forces have responded to past protests and strikes with crackdowns, arrests, and raids. Some fear that a sustained campaign of civil disobedience could trigger even harsher responses.

Still, for many in the West Bank, silence is no longer an option. “We are watching a genocide unfold,” said Leila Saadeh. “This strike is not the end — it’s the beginning of our resistance until Gaza is free.”

A cry for justice

As the West Bank general strike protests Israel's Gaza offensive, Palestinians are sending a loud, unified cry to the world. They are demanding not only a ceasefire but accountability, justice, and the recognition of their suffering.

The empty streets and silent classrooms of April 7 told a story of resilience and outrage — a people refusing to be complicit in silence. Whether the world listens remains to be seen, but for now, the message from the West Bank is clear: Enough is enough.