Palestinians in Jaffa and Umm al-Fahm protest violence and political provocation

JAFFA, (Palestine Foundation Information Center), Palestinians in Jaffa and Umm al-Fahm held separate protests Sunday against escalating violence and Israeli political interference in their communities.

In Jaffa, residents gathered at Al-Ghazazweh Park to condemn a recent surge in killings and organized crime after three people were killed in shootings and vehicle bombings over three days.

The protest, called by Jaffa’s elected Islamic body, accused Israeli police of neglecting Palestinian communities and failing to confront organized crime. Participants demanded immediate action to end the deteriorating security situation.

Meanwhile, residents of Umm al-Fahm declared a general strike and closed schools to prevent Israeli lawmaker Zvi Sukkot from entering educational institutions in the city.

Sukkot, a member of the Religious Zionism party led by Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich, said he intended to inspect school curricula. Local parents and popular committees rejected the visit as a political provocation and an attempt to exploit schools for electoral and personal gain.

Residents held a protest as Sukkot arrived under Israeli police protection, while videos showed him attempting to open doors at schools that had been closed in advance.

The committees suspended classes in all public and private educational institutions to protect students and staff.

Sukkot had previously entered a girls’ school in occupied Jerusalem while high school examinations were underway and had also stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque and attempted to enter other Jerusalem schools.