Shutdown to condemn Gaza hospital massacre paralyzes life in West Bank

By Ahmad Gouda

WEST BANK, Palestine (AA) – A general strike to condemn the “massacre” at Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza brought life to a standstill in the West Bank on Wednesday.

According to the Palestinian news agency WAFA, this strike follows the deadly bombing of the hospital in Gaza City by the Israeli army.

More than 500 people were killed in the Israeli airstrike on the hospital late Tuesday. Footage on social media showed bodies scattered across the hospital grounds.

The airstrike came on the 11th day of the conflict between Israel and Hamas, with a growing international chorus of non-governmental groups and world leaders saying the Israeli bombing campaign on the besieged enclave -- including healthcare facilities, homes and houses of worship -- violates international law and may constitute war crimes.

The shutdown in the West Bank, called for by national and Islamic forces in the northern provinces, paralyzed all aspects of life, with universities, banks, financial institutions, and commercial stores closed.

Further, popular calls urged people to continue confrontations with the “occupation” in every region, street, and square, according to WAFA.

“The Palestinian territories have declared a state of mourning, with flags lowered to half-mast on official institutions in the West Bank, in accordance with President Mahmoud Abbas's three-day general mourning declaration and flag-lowering as a tribute to the martyrs ‘victims’ of Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital and all the martyrs ‘victims’ of Palestinian people,” WAFA reported.

*Writing by Rania Abu Shamala​​​​​​​