Palestinian Health Profession Federation Goes on Strike

People wearing face masks to help fight the spread of the coronavirus walk past shops in a market in Jerusalem's Old City July 6, 2020. (Reuters)
People wearing face masks to help fight the spread of the coronavirus walk past shops in a market in Jerusalem's Old City July 6, 2020. (Reuters)
TT
20

Palestinian Health Profession Federation Goes on Strike

People wearing face masks to help fight the spread of the coronavirus walk past shops in a market in Jerusalem's Old City July 6, 2020. (Reuters)
People wearing face masks to help fight the spread of the coronavirus walk past shops in a market in Jerusalem's Old City July 6, 2020. (Reuters)

The Palestinian Federation of Health Profession went on strike on Wednesday. The move covers all health sector workers, except those in the coronavirus treatment department.

This strike is the first practical step by the unions in anger against the Palestinian Authority’s (PA) management of financial affairs.

According to the Union head, Osama al-Najjar, the strike is aimed at protesting against the policy of “humiliating” workers.

In remarks to local radio, he said the strike was not prompted by the failure to pay the salaries of public sector employees, but is rather a rejection of policies adopted by banks that are backed by the Palestinian Monetary Authority (PMA).

He slammed the Ministry of Finance, PMA and the banks, accusing them of “implementing a policy of oppression and humiliation against employees.”

Najjar also called on the government to hold the monetary authority accountable and force the PMA and the Finance Ministry to provide justifications for the fines and interests that they have imposed.

The PA has been unable to pay public salaries, while banks have been collecting its loans and the interest for the payments delays. The PA has pledged to resolve the issue.

The monetary authority’s measures have exacerbated living conditions in Palestine. Many workers have already lost their jobs since the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak in early March.

The Palestinian economy was already suffering even before the pandemic. The PA relies on local and foreign grants, aid and loans, as well as taxes, all of which have dropped due to the world's preoccupation with the pandemic.

According to figures by the Finance Ministry, domestic income dropped by 80 percent during the past two months.



Trump Says there Could Be a Gaza Deal Next Week

US President Donald Trump speaks to members of the media on board Air Force One on the way to New Jersey, US, July 4, 2025. REUTERS/Nathan Howard
US President Donald Trump speaks to members of the media on board Air Force One on the way to New Jersey, US, July 4, 2025. REUTERS/Nathan Howard
TT
20

Trump Says there Could Be a Gaza Deal Next Week

US President Donald Trump speaks to members of the media on board Air Force One on the way to New Jersey, US, July 4, 2025. REUTERS/Nathan Howard
US President Donald Trump speaks to members of the media on board Air Force One on the way to New Jersey, US, July 4, 2025. REUTERS/Nathan Howard

President Donald Trump said on Friday it was good that Hamas said it had responded in "a positive spirit" to a US-brokered Gaza ceasefire proposal.

He told reporters aboard Air Force One there could be a deal on a Gaza ceasefire by next week but that he had not been briefed on the current state of negotiations.

Hamas announced on Friday that it has completed its internal consultations, as well as discussions with Palestinian factions and forces, regarding the latest ceasefire proposal put forward by mediators to end the assault on the Gaza Strip.

In a press statement, the movement confirmed that it had submitted its response to the mediators, describing it as positive. Hamas also expressed its readiness to immediately engage in serious negotiations on the mechanism for implementing the proposed framework.

A Palestinian official familiar with the matter told Reuters that Hamas had submitted its response to the US-brokered ceasefire proposal, describing it as positive and likely to facilitate reaching an agreement.