DEARBORN, Mich. – Palestinians and people around the world have called for a global strike on Monday in an effort put pressure on governments to support a ceasefire in Gaza.
People across the world were participating in a global strike on Monday, Dec. 11, by not attending work or school, not visiting businesses and not spending money anywhere. Several businesses, including some in Metro Detroit, were also closed in support of the cause.
Though worldwide protests continue to grow against the Israel-Hamas war that has killed thousands of Palestinian civilians, primarily women and children, battles have also continued to rage across Gaza in recent weeks.
While the pro-ceasefire marches have gotten attention, many say more needs to be done to push the world governments toward a resolution. Since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack that triggered the violence, about 90% of Gaza’s 2.3 million people have been displaced in the besieged territory, and thousands have been killed due to military action and Israel’s constant bombing.
The United Nations Security Council proposed a resolution to end the fighting between Israeli forces and Hamas, the group that rules the Gaza territory. But, despite international outrage over the Israeli military’s tactics that have killed and displaced Palestinian civilians and kept them without food, water, and other resources for months, the country has indicated it is prepared to fight for months to defeat Hamas.
Israel is also operating with significant support from the United States government, which recently vetoed the U.N.’s resolution for peace. The U.S. also just pushed through an emergency sale of more than $100 million worth of tank ammunition to Israel.
But many people in Metro Detroit, which is home to the largest Arab population in the country, do not support the Biden administration’s blanket support of Israel amid the war. Dozens of businesses in the Dearborn area were closed on Monday in solidarity with Gaza and the Palestinian people, according to the TCD News in Dearborn.
Some of those businesses reportedly included: Haraz Coffee House, Detroit Furniture, Malek Al-Kabob, Dearborn Jewelry, Treat You Batter, Dellah Coffee & Brunch House, Chicken Kraze, Qahwah House and more. Shaghf Cafe in Canton wrote on its Instagram page that they were closed Monday, Dec. 11, because it’s the “least [they] can do to help amplify the voices of the world calling for a ceasefire.”
The global strike movement was large and growing on social media leading up to Monday, and appeared to be gaining momentum in the U.S. on Monday. Journalists from Gaza were asking the world to extend the day of striking to Tuesday, Dec. 12 -- when the U.N. General Assembly was scheduled to vote on a ceasefire in Gaza.
“To all friends around the world, you are already making a difference by the strike! You are our voice! But today is not enough,” Bisan Owda, a Gazan filmmaker who has been reporting on the war and its impact from Gaza, wrote on Instagram. “Strike tomorrow for another day. Strike until the massacres stop.”
Before the global strike, those in support of a ceasefire have advocated for boycotting companies like Starbucks and McDonald’s that allegedly support the efforts in Israel. Both companies have issued statements saying they don’t support or donate to the Israeli government or military, but that hasn’t done much to calm the growing calls for boycotts on social media.
The Starbucks boycott reportedly began when the company sued the union organizing its workers after the union made a pro-Palestinian social media post at the beginning of this year’s war.
---> Starbucks, Workers United union sue each other in standoff over pro-Palestinian social media post
The latest fighting between Israel and Hamas began on Oct. 7, when Hamas launched a surprise attack and took Israeli hostages. Israel’s leaders blame Hamas for the deaths of Palestinians caused by the war in Gaza, and says Palestinian militants have continued firing rockets into Israel.
The Palestinian death toll in Gaza has surpassed 17,900 people, and is comprised of primarily women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
War latest: Battles rage across Gaza as Israel indicates it’s willing to fight for months or more to beat Hamas