Baqaa camp shopkeepers shut down stores in support of Palestine

BAQAA CAMP — Although Sami Atef’s accessories store at Baqaa refugee camp is his main source of income, he decided to sacrifice it for the sake of Palestine.   

Atef was among the many residents of Baqaa camp who took to the streets on Tuesday protesting against the decisions taken by US President Donald Trump to move the American embassy to Jerusalem and to recognise it as the capital of Israel. 

“I wanted to take part in the strike to show support to our brothers in Palestine. This is the least we can do for Palestine by closing down the shop for one day and I am ready to continue taking part in future strikes until the decision comes to an end,” he told The Jordan Times at the camp.  

Carrying Palestine flags and chanting slogans renouncing the decision, Hussein Abu Al Shiekh, one of the strike’s coordinators, said that, since Trump’s announcement, the camp’s residents have started several activities to denounce the decision.  

“People will not abandon any rights regarding Palestine, whether the right of return of refugees or the right of Jerusalem being the capital of Palestine,” he stated.  

Abu al Shiekh noted that the committees that initially coordinated the event announced a one-hour strike from noon untill 1pm but stressed that participants decided to close their stores all day long.

Jamal Ahmad, one of the protesters, said that the strike is not a matter of closing stores down, but rather a matter of emphasising Palestine is a national cause.  

Abu Omar, 85, said that the strike will send a message to the world. 

“We will never accept to lose Palestine,” he said while sitting outside a closed store.