Palestinians in the Shuafat refugee camp and the surrounding neighborhoods in occupied East Jerusalem have launched a general strike in protest against a days-long blockade by Israeli forces that has severely affected access to basic services. Many Palestinians have taken to the streets to demonstrate their disgust with the unfair treatment under Israeli apartheid.
Over the past week, the Israeli government and occupation forces have besieged the West Bank city of Nablus, limiting exit and entry via roadblocks and additional security checks, and isolating the estimated 170,000 residents. A lockdown of the city affects not just its residents, but Palestinians from neighboring towns who visit Nablus for commerce. These punishing measures are part of what Israel is calling “Operation Break the Wave”, aimed at destroying Palestinian resistance.
The lockdown comes after the shooting death of two Israeli soldiers over the past week. On Tuesday a 21-year-old soldier from the Givati reconnaissance unit was killed in a drive-by shooting near an illegal settlement he was protecting. Similarly, a young Israeli soldier was killed Saturday night while policing one of the refugee camp’s main checkpoints. To be clear, residents living in Shuafat are fully encircled by Israel’s Separation Wall and have only two exit and entry points in the form of permanently staffed Israeli border police checkpoints.
"The strike is in solidarity with Shuafat refugee camp and how it is being dealt with. It looks like it will be the start of a civil disobedience (campaign), and let us hope for the best."
-Khaled Alqam, Jerusalem resident
Similarly, much of the land surrounding Nablus has been illegally occupied by settlers who are protected by the Israeli forces as they openly antagonize Palestinians. Palestinians have demonstrated their anger by burning tires and throwing stones, to which Israeli forces have responded by firing live rounds, tear gas, and stun grenades. To call this conflict asymmetrical would be an understatement of the highest order.
Side Items
Infowars Idiot: Families of the victims of Sandy Hook were able to take solace yesterday in absolutely bankrupting the blubbering Infowars idiot Alex Jones, as a judge ruled that he pay nearly $1 billion in damages after spreading conspiracy theories and harassing the families for years. No word on what absurd claims Jones will make next, my guess is it has to do with homosexual turtles
City Council Drama: The president of the Los Angeles city council was forced to resign after some of her racist remarks were made public in a leaked recording. Her resignation statement unfortunately reads more like the retirement speech of an accomplished public servant and not like the shameful apology of a racist