RAMALLAH, Palestinian Territories, July 31, 2024 (AFP) - Palestinian factions
called for unity and a general strike on Wednesday to protest the killing of
Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in an air strike in Tehran.

"The national and Islamic factions in Palestine announce a comprehensive
strike and anger marches to (protest) the assassination of the great national
leader Ismail Haniyeh, which came in the framework of Zionist state terrorism
and its war of extermination," the Palestinian factions in the occupied West
Bank said in a joint statement.

Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas said in a statement that he "condemns the
assassination of leader Haniyeh and calls on our people and their forces to
unite and stand firm".

In an unusual display of solidarity with his main political rival, Abbas
called for a day of mourning for the man he had named prime minister in 2006
and dismissed in 2007. Flags are to be flown at half-mast.

The prime minister's office in Ramallah condemned "the treacherous
assassination" of Haniyeh, and called on Palestinians to remain united "in
the face of the (Israeli) occupation".

AFP journalists in Ramallah reported that employees of government ministries
left their offices in response to the strike call.

Shops closed and employees left work in several cities in the occupied West
Bank, while cultural institutions announced they would remain closed.