KUWAIT: Dozens of businesses across Kuwait took part in a global strike on Monday, standing in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza and demanding an end to the genocide by the Zionist entity. From suspending financial transactions to closing physical and online stores, local business owners stepped away from profits to take a moral stand.

The call for the strike comes from the Global Campaign to Stop the Genocide in Gaza, a coalition of international civil society groups urging people across the world — including Kuwait and other Arab countries — to stand still, if only for one day, to send a message that Gaza is not alone. “For Gaza’s children and women, to stop its extermination and mass killing — we call on the free people of the world to join the global strike and civil disobedience in protest against the genocide in Gaza,” the coalition said in a post published on their Instagram account.

The strike was supported by The National and Islamic Forces — an alliance of major factions in Palestine, including Hamas and Fatah — who called for “a comprehensive strike across all aspects of life in the occupied territories and refugee camps”.

The global campaign appeal urged a complete halt to all financial activity: No shopping, no online orders, no fuel stops, no card payments and no bank transfers, especially through tools and

platforms linked to Western financial networks and corporations. Supporters around the world disengaged from the global economic system for 24 hours, aiming to shine a global spotlight on the devastation unfolding in Gaza: the relentless airstrikes, the killing of entire families, and the systematic destruction of homes.

In Kuwait, the response was swift and emotionally charged. Some businesses announced they would completely suspend operations, including all financial transactions, including online and in-person purchases, whether using credit cards, and in some cases, even cash. Others accepted cash only and pledged to send part of or all the proceeds from their sales to Gaza.

“Even if we lose profits for the day — or the whole year — it means nothing,” said Khaled Almadini, Marketing and HR Manager at a local incense company. “The pain we witness daily, the helplessness we feel... that’s far more unbearable than any financial loss.” For Almadini, this wasn’t about politics — it was about humanity. “It’s a humanitarian issue. Even if animals were facing this brutality, we’d act. So how can we stay silent when children, women, elders — innocent souls — are being erased?”

His business went completely dark for the day: No orders, no digital payments, no financial links. “Money is not more valuable than life,” he added. “Our Prophet (PBUH) said the destruction of the Kaaba is less severe than the killing of one soul. So how can we just carry on as if nothing’s happening?” Almadini acknowledged that the impact may seem symbolic — but believes symbolism, repeated and widespread, becomes power. “If more people joined, we could begin to hurt the companies and economies that enable this violence. That’s worth trying.”

Soha Sabbah, co-owner of a local restaurant, echoed a similar sentiment. “We’re not holding weapons. But we can hold back our money. And maybe that matters.” She suspended all orders through her website and delivery platforms, refusing even local digital payments tied to global banking systems. “No Visa. No Mastercard. No links. Just cash. And all of today’s cash will go straight to Gaza.” Financial loss, she said, was irrelevant. “Even if I lose KD 100 or 300 today — it’s nothing. I’m doing this to show my customers, and my kids, that we do not watch in silence.”

On social media platforms like Instagram and X, dozens of Kuwaiti businesses issued similar statements of solidarity — many sharing nearly identical declarations that they would suspend financial transactions on Monday, April 7, as part of the global strike.

It wasn’t just businesses that participated. Many consumers across Kuwait also embraced the strike, abiding by the call to avoid online purchases, streaming services, and digital banking for the day. One user on Instagram commented: “I entered the supermarket to get some stuff and filled my cart, then I remembered the strike. I left the cart where it was and walked out.”

While many embraced the strike as an act of resistance, some users on social media platform X expressed skepticism about its real-world impact. “What does Gaza gain from halting bank transfers in Kuwait? We’ve always supported Gaza through aid. But let’s not harm ourselves in the process,” one user wrote. “I support punishing the occupation — but how is stopping KNET helping? Aren’t we hurting ourselves more?” another added.

Supporters, however, defended the strike’s symbolic weight. “It’s an intelligent financial strike — a people’s weapon against systems profiting from our silence,” said activist Nayla Fayez. “As long as Gaza bleeds, the world’s economy shouldn’t function as normal.”

Kuwaiti academic Dr Haya bint Salman Al-Sabah voiced concern about the strike’s religious and ethical implications. In a widely circulated Instagram post, she emphasized that Islam does not permit harming others in pursuit of good. “The comprehensive strike is not permissible if it disrupts people’s needs,” she wrote, referencing Quranic verses.

“This catastrophe must be addressed with wisdom — through scholars and strategic decisions, not emotional acts that may cause more harm than good,” she added. While she supported targeted boycotts with scholarly backing, she warned that blanket work stoppages may cross ethical lines.