Palestinians in Jerusalem launch civil disobedience campaign after Israel abuses

Palestinians in the Jerusalem area on Sunday launched a campaign of 'civil disobedience' to protest Israeli abuses.

Confrontations broke out with Israeli forces, including at the military checkpoint at the entrance to occupied East Jerusalem's Shuafat refugee camp – where tensions have been particularly high. 

Young Palestinians shut off entrances to the camp with barricades and dumpsters. Israeli forces attempted in vain to open up the entrances to the camp, firing rubber bullets and tear gas canisters to leave at least three wounded.

Mosques in the Shuafat camp, East Jerusalem's Issawiya neighbourhood, and the nearby towns of Al-Ram and Anata in the occupied West Bank on Saturday night declared a general strike and comprehensive civil disobedience.

They called on Palestinians not to attend workplaces located inside Israel and to boycott the occupying state, including by not paying bills and taxes.

Activists say they are determined to continue with the civil disobedience until Israeli authorities end their repressive practices against their neighbourhoods and towns, and especially the Shuafat camp.

Camp residents are subject to daily violations, with Israeli forces carrying out frequent raids and arrests.