Palestinians in Israel strike against crime wave
On 22 January, people in Palestinian communities across Israel held strikes and protests, highlighting the lack of social provision, and racism-fuelled marginalisation, that has made their communities vulnerable to a violent crime wave.
Standing Together, which was involved in the strike, writes to supporters:
Today [22 January], Palestinians across Israel are on strike in response to an epidemic of organised crime in Palestinian communities in Israel. Thousands took to the streets in Sakhnin and other Palestinian towns and villages, closing businesses and disrupting daily life to mark a breaking point after years of unchecked violence. We joined the mass protest in Sakhnin, bringing Palestinians and Jews from across the country to the streets to stand in solidarity and call for real safety and protection for all. Palestinian communities in Israel have long been denied real protection and basic state services, and this crisis cannot be treated as inevitable.
This strike rejects a reality in which violence is normalised and allowed to run our streets, and families are expected to endure the unendurable. We are drawing a clear line: fear will not be accepted as normal, daily bloodshed must no longer be overlooked, and safety will not remain a privilege. This daily horror is unacceptable, and the families most vulnerable to it cannot be left alone.
Last weekend we visited grieving families in Palestinian towns inside Israel who lost family members to homicide. We came to stand in solidarity with these families, listen to their stories, and break the isolation that so often follows their grief. Solidarity does not end at protests and slogans; it also means being partners in grief, and supporting one another through the violent outcome of this brutal reality.
Next week we are convening an emergency conference in Nazareth, with the goal of moving from presence to pressure and placing personal and social safety at the centre of the public agenda. Bereaved families from the Palestinian community will speak together, share their experiences, and present a joint demand to decision-makers and the public. Safety cannot be delayed, and it cannot be selective.
Thank you for being part of this shared struggle.
Posted 23 January 2026