Global strike to condemn the war on Gaza

A global strike began on Monday, December 11, 2023, in protest against the Zionist aggression on Gaza and the genocide being perpetrated by the occupying army in the Strip. Tens of thousands of civilians, two-thirds of them children and women, have been killed.

The strike call was launched on social media, and the campaign, dubbed the "Global Strike," gained widespread traction among activists of all nationalities calling for solidarity with Gaza and a ceasefire.

This call for a general strike was met with great support among those who support an end to the war on Gaza.

The Confederation of Productive Forces Trade Unions calls for support for the global strike.

In support of this call in Algeria, the Confederation called through Her Facebook page All workers in Algeria support the strike in solidarity with their brothers in Gaza.

The Confederation of Productive Forces has touched upon COSYFOP He responded to the strike in some sectors, including education and higher education. Many university professors and students responded individually, and many families did not send their children to school. This was despite the absence of an official call for a strike from the government.

The Confederation does not miss the opportunity to commend everyone who responded to this strike in Algeria.

It is worth noting that COSYFOP attended an online seminar organized by the Public Services International Union (PSI) in the Asia-Pacific region. This was held on the occasion of International Human Rights Day, during which members of unions in occupied Palestine and health workers were heard. The aim was to learn about their suffering and struggles and to propose an action strategy through which PSI unions can effectively stand in solidarity with Gaza. It also explored practical ways to support a ceasefire to save Gaza from genocide.

It's also worth noting that the symposium coincided with a speech by World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Sunday, December 10. He stated that it would be impossible to improve the "catastrophic" health situation in Gaza, even if the Council adopted an emergency proposal from the WHO to ensure increased medical aid and rapid delivery.

What is special about this strike? 

The global strike aims to protest the Zionist aggression against Gaza, with a global call for an immediate ceasefire. It also aims to pressure governments economically to use stronger leverage and force them to take serious action to halt the aggression against Gaza. 

This is the least the international community can do for the Palestinians, and Gaza in particular, after more than 60 days of genocide without realistic solutions. To this end, the callers for this strike agreed to:

• Sitting at home and refraining from daily activities, meaning no buying or selling, no learning, no teaching, no work, and a complete halt to life for a day in support of Gaza.
• Stop buying and selling in cash or by card.
• Public transportation was paralyzed, including businesses, banks, offices, ministries, and magazines. Localization of telecommunications in the local market was halted.
• Disable Facebook and Instagram accounts.

Massive global reactions in support of the strike were seen, with solidarity actions taking place across the Arab world and beyond, including in schools, universities, public and private companies, shops, and even celebrities and individuals.

International responses to the global strike 

 The call for a strike sparked widespread response in Islamic, Arab, and international cities, with campaigns calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire and a halt to the genocide being perpetrated against defenseless civilians in the Gaza Strip. The call was widely circulated via hashtags on social media platforms, supported by numerous organizations. Here are some of the contents:

Global strike adopted by Palestinian resistance:

Hamas praised the global strike and called on all free people around the world to participate.

National and Islamic forces:

It is a coalition of major Palestinian factions, and the strike call was issued by Palestinians throughout the occupied West Bank and their supporters around the world to participate in a general strike.

Call of Muslim scholars: The International Union of Muslim Scholars called for a global strike, stressing the importance of participating in support of the Palestinian cause and halting the massacres in the besieged Gaza Strip.

Lebanon: Official decisions for the global strike

The Lebanese Council of Ministers, a day before the global strike, announced the closure of all government departments and institutions in the country on Monday. This is part of a global movement calling for a worldwide strike in solidarity with Gaza and the Palestinian people.

Jordan: Complete paralysis in the Jordanian street

 There was widespread response to calls for a general strike in support of Gaza in Jordan, with large numbers of businesses and shops closing their doors and banners displaying a general strike in solidarity with the Gaza Strip.

Tunisia: Partial participation in the strike

Thousands of teachers staged a two-hour strike across all schools, while dozens of students demonstrated on Habib Bourguiba Avenue in the Tunisian capital.

Türkiye: Partial and total strikes in several regions

In Istanbul, educational, commercial, and cultural institutions, including schools and shops in several areas, participated in the general strike in support of Gaza.

A growing number of activists in most Arab countries, particularly in Egypt and Morocco, and around the world, have also taken to social media to express their full support for the general strike.
In conclusion, we note that demonstrations around the world against the barbaric Zionist aggression on Gaza have not ceased. Activists and unions who were unable to participate in the global strike for several reasons are planning to take further action to condemn this unjust aggression, which has waged a brutal war on the Strip, which has become a global humanitarian issue.