General Strike Paralyzes Palestine, 'Hamas' and 'Jihad' Call for New Uprising

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh gestures as he delivers a speech over US President Donald Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, in Gaza City December 7, 2017. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem
Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh gestures as he delivers a speech over US President Donald Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, in Gaza City December 7, 2017. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem
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General Strike Paralyzes Palestine, 'Hamas' and 'Jihad' Call for New Uprising

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh gestures as he delivers a speech over US President Donald Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, in Gaza City December 7, 2017. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem
Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh gestures as he delivers a speech over US President Donald Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, in Gaza City December 7, 2017. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

As the Palestinian authority considers adequate options to respond to the US President Donald Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem a capital of Israel, Palestinians marched to the streets to express anger and rage against this decision. They clashed with Israeli soldiers in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, chanting “Death to US and Trump.”

Palestine witnessed on Thursday a general mass strike – Palestinians protested, burnt images of Trump and US flags, and threw stones and empty bottles on the Israeli soldiers who responded with gun-shooting, gas and sound bombs.

At a press conference, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh called for a “new uprising” against Israel after Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as the Israeli capital.

“Tomorrow, December 8, 2017, should be a day of rage and the beginning of a major effort to rise up,” he said Thursday in a televised speech.

Haniyeh called on the Palestinian Authority to halt security coordination with Israel and to revoke the Oslo Accords.

“We have given instruction to all Hamas members and to all its wings to be fully ready for any new instructions or orders that may be given to confront this strategic danger that threatens Jerusalem and threatens Palestine,” added Haniyeh.

He demanded the convention of “an urgent Arab Summit” to propose a serious stand beside Jerusalem and to boycott the US administration.

Daoud Chehab, head of Islamic Jihad Movement media office, narrated the movement's statement that demanded announcing the failure of settlement, revoking Oslo Accords and rejecting any obligations resulting from it especially in the field of security coordination.

Chehab called all factions to engage in the Jerusalem uprising and to empower and escalate the resistance all over the occupied territories, namely in the West Bank. He also called on the Arab League to withdraw from peacemaking with Israel, cut any ties with Israel and to close all its embassies in Arab capitals.

President of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas is currently coordinating with a number of Arab leaders to consider future steps. In this context, Abbas met on Thursday Jordan’s King Abdullah II and they discussed latest developments.



Netanyahu Appoints Adviser with Trump Ties to Lead Ceasefire Talks 

Relatives and supporters of Israelis held hostage by Hamas in Gaza stuck a sticker with the face of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on a road which they poured red liquid, symbolizing blood, in Jerusalem, Monday, Feb. 17, 2025, during a rally to mark 500 days of captivity and demand their release. (AP)
Relatives and supporters of Israelis held hostage by Hamas in Gaza stuck a sticker with the face of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on a road which they poured red liquid, symbolizing blood, in Jerusalem, Monday, Feb. 17, 2025, during a rally to mark 500 days of captivity and demand their release. (AP)
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Netanyahu Appoints Adviser with Trump Ties to Lead Ceasefire Talks 

Relatives and supporters of Israelis held hostage by Hamas in Gaza stuck a sticker with the face of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on a road which they poured red liquid, symbolizing blood, in Jerusalem, Monday, Feb. 17, 2025, during a rally to mark 500 days of captivity and demand their release. (AP)
Relatives and supporters of Israelis held hostage by Hamas in Gaza stuck a sticker with the face of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on a road which they poured red liquid, symbolizing blood, in Jerusalem, Monday, Feb. 17, 2025, during a rally to mark 500 days of captivity and demand their release. (AP)

An Israeli official said that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has appointed a close confidant to lead negotiations for the second stage of the ceasefire with Hamas.

The official says that Cabinet Minister Ron Dermer will head the Israeli team. Previous talks have been led by the heads of the Mossad and Shin Bet security agencies.

Talks have not yet started on the second stage, which is meant to include an end to the war, return of all hostages and Israeli pullout from Gaza.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the appointment has not been officially announced.

The US-born Dermer is widely seen as Netanyahu’s closest adviser. He previously served as Israel’s ambassador to the US and is a former Republican activist with strong ties to the Trump White House.

Dermer currently serves as Israel’s strategic affairs minister, where he has been a key player in relations with the US and other countries.