General Strike Paralyzes West Bank in Condemnation of Palestinian Prisoner Execution Law

A general strike has gripped the cities of the occupied West Bank since early Wednesday morning, with all aspects of life coming to a complete halt, expressing widespread popular rejection of the Israeli Knesset's approval of the prisoner execution law. Shops and institutions closed their doors in major city centers such as Hebron, Ramallah, and Nablus, in a protest move aimed at conveying a message of anger against legislation targeting the Palestinian presence.

These field actions came in response to calls launched by the Fatah movement, which demanded the necessity of launching a comprehensive national movement and strengthening diplomatic efforts at both Arab and international levels. In a statement, the movement stressed that the goal of this escalation is to pressure for the repeal of the law and to hold the occupation authorities accountable for their systematic and continuous crimes against the Palestinian people and their prisoners inside jails.

National forces affirmed that this legislation, which they described as 'criminal,' will not succeed in breaking the will of the prisoner movement or deterring Palestinians from demanding their legitimate rights. Field sources indicated that the streets appeared completely deserted in many governorates, reflecting the popular consensus in confronting this new legal threat that affects the lives of thousands of detainees.

Yesterday, Tuesday, West Bank cities witnessed a series of massive protest vigils organized by institutions concerned with prisoner affairs in Jenin, Tubas, Hebron, and other areas. Participants in these events raised slogans condemning Israeli racism, warning that the approval of such laws represents a green light for implementing legal liquidation operations against Palestinian freedom fighters.

The law, approved by the Knesset on Monday, stipulates the imposition of the death penalty by hanging on Palestinians convicted of killing Israelis, while exempting Israelis from the same penalty if they kill Palestinians. Human rights organizations believe that this clear discrimination entrenches the 'apartheid' system and racist legislation that grants full immunity to prison officers and executioners.

The new legislation's provisions include broad powers for military courts in the West Bank, allowing them to issue death sentences by a simple majority without requiring a unanimous decision from judges. The law also prohibits the military commander from commuting or canceling the sentence, with mandatory execution within ninety days of its issuance, along with imposing strict isolation measures on those sentenced in underground solitary confinement cells.

This dangerous development comes amid tragic conditions experienced by more than 9,300 Palestinian prisoners inside occupation prisons, where the pace of abuse and starvation has escalated since October 2023. Human rights reports indicate that dozens of prisoners have died due to medical negligence and systematic torture, making the execution law an additional tool in the slow killing policy pursued by the prison administration.

This criminal law will not break the will of the people or the determination of the prisoners; rather, it will increase their resolve to continue the struggle for their freedom and legitimate rights.