Arabs in 48 occupied territories are protesting against the Israeli attack on the Gaza flotilla, which claimed to lives of at least 20 activists. The Higher Arab Monitoring Committee on Monday called for a general strip on Tuesday. The committee's acting chairman, Ramez Jaraisi, called for an international probe into what he called "the State of Israel's crimes".

The committee convened for an emergency meeting Monday morning, following the bloody crime at the heart of sea. Representatives from various political parties attended the meeting, including Knesset members Mohammad Barakeh, Afou Agbaria, Ibrahim Sarsur and Masud Ganaim.

At the start of the meeting Jaraisi said, "We are up against the crimes of pirates. No body in the world would dare think of attacking a humanitarian operation. This is the brutal attack of ships that were transporting aid equipment."

He also leveled piercing criticism at the Zionist entity, saying, "The State of Israel is not satisfied with the criminal siege on the Gaza Strip, and is seeking to enlarge and expand its circle of crime through the massacre we saw with our very eyes.

At the end of his speech, Jaraisi, who is also the mayor of Nazareth, called for a general strike and said the Arabs in the occupied territories expect clear and unambiguous answers.

MK Barakeh then took the podium, saying, "We are concerned for all those injured, including Sheikh Raed Salah (head of the Islamic Movement), as we do not know what condition he is in. I call for protest processions and demonstrations in all the Arab villages and cities."

Salah's deputy, Kamal Khatib, said at the meeting, "No matter the scope of Sheikh Raed's injuries, this was an assassination attempt. All blood that is spilled there is sacred blood and there is no difference between one person's blood and another's. All measures we decide on today are not final, and they will be followed by other measures. This depends on the developments in the matter."

MK Sarsur said, "We must not remain silent in the face of such a crime… Responsibility lies solely on the State of Israel."