Palestinians in the West Bank demonstrate against the ongoing conflict in Gaza
In an uncommon display of solidarity, demonstrations against the ongoing war in Gaza have swept across various cities in the West Bank, with hundreds of protesters rallying in Ramallah, the seat of the Palestinian Authority. This coordinated action is rarely seen, as such demonstrations are typically confined to individual cities.
The Palestinian Commission of Detainees' and Ex-Detainees' Affairs has stated that the purpose of these protests is to support the people in Gaza and the hungry children there. Protesters waved Palestinian flags and carried photos of Palestinians killed or imprisoned by Israel, along with images depicting the hunger crisis unfolding in the Gaza Strip, where a "famine is unfolding" according to UN-backed experts.
One of the protesters at the Ramallah march, Tagreed Ziada, voiced her support for the people of Gaza, stating, "We are here to support the people in Gaza and the hungry children there."
Many government employees in these cities received a day off to attend the demonstrations. A group of protesters dressed as skeletons and carried dolls to symbolize the Gaza war's dire effect on children, who are most at risk of malnutrition.
Israel continues to restrict the entry of aid into Gaza, which has been under blockade for 15 years. Much of the food aid that Israel allows into Gaza is reportedly looted or diverted in chaotic circumstances.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza is currently catastrophic, with widespread famine and severe food insecurity severely impacting children. Over 20,000 children have been treated for acute malnutrition since April 2025, with at least 16 reported deaths of children under five from hunger-related causes since mid-July. More than 320,000 children under five are at risk of acute malnutrition, and over half a million people face starvation, destitution, and death as Gaza approaches famine conditions.
The World Food Programme (WFP) has delivered food to over 1.3 million people, but the volatile security situation and infrastructure collapse severely hamper aid distribution. The health system is overwhelmed, with hospitals treating thousands for malnutrition amid widespread displacement and destruction.
Rula Ghanem, a Palestinian academic and writer, took part in the march and stated that her son is in Israel's Megido prison. She explained that her son suffers from the lack of medicine and food in prison and has lost 10 kilograms and suffered from scabies.
Thaer Shriteh, the commission's spokesman, told AFP that the international community is a partner in the suffering of Palestinians as long as it does not intervene quickly to save the Palestinian people and save the prisoners.
The protests against the war in Gaza were not limited to Ramallah. Protests were also held in other major Palestinian cities, including Nablus in the north and Hebron in the south. As the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to escalate, it is hoped that these protests will bring attention to the urgent needs of the people in Gaza and spur international action to alleviate their suffering.
- The protests in Ramallah, as well as in other major cities like Nablus and Hebron, indicate a convergence of war-and-conflicts, politics, and general-news topics, as people rally against the ongoing war in Gaza, calling for international intervention to alleviate the dire humanitarian situation.
- In the midst of the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where starvation, destitution, and death are imminent for over half a million people, including over 320,000 children under five at risk of acute malnutrition, these demonstrations serve as a political platform, aiming to bring attention to the plight of Palestinians and push for urgent action from the international community.
