RAMALLAH, Wednesday, December 26, 2018 (WAFA) – The Palestinian Doctors Association called off on Wednesday its general strike following a Supreme Court ruling barring the strike and called on its members to return to work as of Thursday morning.

The Ministry of Health had earlier urged all striking physicians to return to work immediately or face legal consequences following the Supreme Court’s ruling.

The Doctors Association said it will abide by the court ruling out of respect for the Palestinian justice system and therefore has called off the strike.

The Ministry of Health said a law passed in 2017 bars health staff, except administrators, from going on strike because of the damage the strike could cause to people’s lives.

The physicians went on strike after accusing the government of ignoring their complaints about a new law that deals with the safety in practice and health of people in which doctors could be arrested and jailed for malpractice.

The doctors had observed a strike on Monday and another one on Wednesday before deciding to call it off.

M.K.