Gaza: Activists call on people to stop using credit cards for up to a week

Pro-Palestine supporters have called for a global strike starting from Monday asking people to stop using credit cards for up to a week, in hopes that this would exert enough pressure on economies and get governments to call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

Under the hashtag #StrikeForGaza, the campaign asks people to stop using their credit cards between 24 hours and a week, withdrawing in cash only the amount they need, and avoiding online credit purchases.

They argued this may have some negative impact on corporations, eventually leading to a bigger effect in which governments call for a ceasefire in Gaza - which has been devastated by a brutal and indiscriminate Israeli war since October 7.

Over 19,400 people – mostly women and children- have been killed in the bombardment and ruins, and much of Gaza has been left in ruins, with most of its inhabitants displaced.

Calls for people to step away from using their credit cards had started online before Monday.

A strike was observed in some countries on Monday, 11 December, in solidarity with Gaza, including the occupied West Bank.  Lebanon called for an official strike and it was widely observed in Jordan.

Cities around the world have also seen huge demonstrations calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Last week, the United States vetoed a UN Security Council resolution that would have called for an immediate ceasefire in the besieged and bombed Palestinian territory.