Palestinians go on strike amid airstrikes, rocket fire
Palestinians went on strike on Tuesday to protest Israeli policies denying Palestinians the rights afforded to Jews.
The strikes come against the backdrop of continued violence in the region, with Hamas launching rocket fire at Israel and Israel launching air strikes at Gaza in response.
The Associated Press reported that Palestinians in Israel, East Jerusalem and the West Bank were observing a general strike intended to protest the Israeli policies.
One of the strike’s organizers, Muhammad Barakeh, told the AP that Palestinians were expressing a “collective position” against Israel’s “aggression” in Gaza and Jerusalem, as well as “brutal repression” by police across Israel.
Israel has blamed the current war on Hamas, accusing it of inciting violence across the region. The strike was backed by the Palestinian Authority in the occupied West Bank, according to AP. Hamas is designated as a terrorist group by the United States.
The Israeli military said Tuesday that it fired at 65 militant targets, including rocket launchers, a group of fighters and the homes of Hamas commanders, the AP reported.
While Hamas’s rocket attacks on Israel have been more deadly than the last fighting in 2014, more Palestinians are being killed by Israel’s airstrikes.
According to the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza, 213 Palestinians, including 61 children, have been killed since airstrikes first began on May 10. Another 1,442 have been injured.
The Ministry of Health said Monday that its facilities were targeted, forcing the stop of central laboratory services like COVID-19 testing and vaccinations, pregnancy services and telemedicine.
Israel said on Monday that Islamic Jihad commander Hussam Abu Harbeed was killed in an airstrike in Gaza City, which is likely to provoke a heavy response from the group.
President Biden on Monday expressed support for a cease-fire during a call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This followed pressure from dozens of Democratic and progressive lawmakers.
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