The day after the confirmation of the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, killed Wednesday October 16 in an Israeli operation, the Palestinian factions called on the population this Saturday October 19 to cease their activity. A “strike” in tribute to the leader of Hamas and to protest against the war in Gaza.
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With our special correspondent in Jerusalem, Nicolas Feldmann
In the rue de Salaheddine, a stone’s throw from the old town, half of the iron curtains are down. Jawad closed his souvenir store a little further away. “ We don’t care about Hamas, politics or Sinwar. We are doing all this for Gaza, for what is happening there. They kill people, children. We were called to close for a day, so I closed my store », he testifies.
Mohammad also says he is in solidarity with these millions of Gaza residents, especially since winter is coming. But for him, it’s difficult to close even for a day. “ The economy at Jerusalem for workers is very bad because of the war. We are really tired. God willing, the war will end and the economy will restart », he hopes.
The door of Imad’s bookstore remained open this Saturday. Not in opposition to Hamas, but because it no longer believes in these strikes. “ I’m not closing because there’s nothing to gain, so I’m not striking. A strike must affect the economy or affect a sector of the Israeli economy, for example. There, we are only penalizing ourselves. We just lose more money and stay home », argues the man.
The death of the Hamas leader will not change anything in the Gaza war, Imad predicts. The Israelis continue to kill » and the only solution, according to him, is “ the end of the occupation. That’s all “.