RAMALLAH, December 7, 2017 (WAFA) – A general strike was observed in most of the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem, on Thursday in protest against US President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as capital of Israel.

Shops remained closed as students stayed home following a call for a strike in all schools as well. Many businesses also observed the strike.

Palestinian nationalist and Islamist forces called for the strike following Trump’s announcement on Jerusalem, which Palestinians saw as a betrayal of the US role as honest peace broker in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

Palestinians came out in spontaneous protests following the announcement on Wednesday night in Jerusalem, Ramallah, Bethlehem and other West Bank cities and in Gaza.

Christmas trees in Bethlehem and Ramallah were turned off in a sign of mourning.

Further rallies and protests are planned for Thursday in most West Bank and Gaza cities and in East Jerusalem where activists called for a gathering at Damascus Gate shortly before noon.

The Palestinian forces called for three days of rage to protest the US move on Jerusalem, which Israel has occupied in the June 1967 war. The climax of these protests is expected on the third day, Friday, following the noon prayers.

M.K.