Gaza Strip – In Rare Demonstration, Thousands Protest Power Cuts In Gaza

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    Angry Palestinians wave their nationally flags while chant slogans during a protest against the electricity shortages at the main square in Gaza City, Thursday, Jan. 12, 2017. The Palestinian enclave is experiencing worst electricity shortage in years, with power supplied to households only three to four hours in a cold winter. (AP Photo/Adel Hana)Gaza Strip – Thousands of people took to the streets on Thursday to protest chronic power cuts in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, in one of the largest unauthorized protests in the territory since the Islamic militant group took power a decade ago.

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    Hamas has shown little tolerance for dissent, and it moved quickly to contain Thursday’s demonstration. Police fired in the air to disperse a crowd of stone-throwing protesters and blocked journalists from the area. A day earlier, Hamas-run authorities arrested a local comedian who made a viral video lamenting the power shortages during the cold winter season.

    The demonstration began in the Jebaliya refugee camp, and as it grew in size, the crowd marched toward the nearby offices of an electricity distribution company, chanting: “Raise your voice, electricity cuts mean death.”

    Hamas police made way for the crowd, but took up positions outside the electricity company’s building. When a group of youths threw stones at them, they fired into the air to disperse the crowd. Later, the protesters arrived at the building and gathered peacefully.

    Hamas forces blocked journalists from filming the gathering, and an Associated Press journalist was briefly detained at gunpoint until he handed over his mobile phones to plainclothes security men.

    The Foreign Press Association, which represents international media operating in Israel and the Palestinian territories, said a photographer with Agence France-Presse was badly beaten in the head by uniformed policemen and required medical care after he refused to hand over his camera. The group condemned the “violent behavior” in the “strongest terms.”

    Interior Ministry spokesman Iyad Bozom denied anyone had been injured. He said protesters were dispersed after they “attacked” the electricity company building and that “quiet has been restored” to the area.

    Life has become increasingly difficult for Gaza’s 2 million residents, who are squeezed into the tiny coastal territory. Hamas’ violent takeover a decade ago triggered a border blockade by Israel and Egypt that, among other things, sharply aggravated power shortages.
    Palestinians chant angry slogans during a demonstration against the chronic power cuts in Jabaliya refugee camp, Northern Gaza Strip, Thursday, Jan. 12, 2017. Thousands of people took to the streets on Thursday to protest chronic power cuts in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, in one of the largest unauthorized protests in the territory since the Islamic militant group took power a decade ago. (AP Photo/ Khalil Hamra)
    In a sign of the worsening situation, Gaza comedian Adel al-Mashwakhi was arrested just hours after posting a video about the hardships under Hamas rule, friends and rights groups said. By Thursday afternoon, the video had received more than 250,000 views.

    In the one-minute video, titled “Hamas, it’s enough,” he lists the basics missing in Gaza, including jobs and the ability to travel. “(Take) everything but electricity, Hamas,” he says, facing the camera.

    Bozom declined to comment about the arrest.

    Hamas, an Islamic militant group sworn to Israel’s destruction, has ruled the territory since 2007, routinely clamping down on critics.

    Despite the hardships, anti-Hamas protests have been rare, in part because of fear and because even disgruntled Gazans believe there’s no realistic path to toppling the militants.

    Gaza is currently experiencing the worst electricity shortage in years, with power supplied to households only three to four hours a day in a cold winter. Residents have tried to improvise, using old kerosene heaters to keep warm and restarting previously disused community ovens for cooking and baking.

    In recent weeks, Gaza residents have staged spontaneous demonstrations, including marching at night with torches to demand more electricity.

    Al-Mashwakhi posted his video late Tuesday.

    “There is no work, no (border) crossing points, no food, no water and also no electricity,” he shouts in the clip, after getting out of a white car in the dark.

    The artist has produced several short mobile phone videos and acted in some. He rose to fame locally with video clips in which he sings songs with nonsensical lyrics.

    The Gaza-based Palestinian Center for Human Rights condemned the comedian’s arrest, and said it was the third time since last year that he was taken into custody for criticizing Hamas. During one of the detentions, he was tortured, the group said.
    Palestinians refugees warm up in front of a fire outside their makshift house during a power outage in Al Zaitun neighbourhood in the east of Gaza City, 11 January 2017. Residents of Gaza, home to 1.8 million people, experience some 16 hours of electricity outage per day.  EPA/MOHAMMED SABER


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    6 Comments
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    7 years ago

    let them use the money they get from the U.S. and other countries to pay their ELECTRIC BILL instead of building TUNNELS & ROCKETS to attack the hand that’s feeding them

    Speaksoftly
    Speaksoftly
    7 years ago

    Perhaps those poor people can take shelter in all the underground tunnels where so many resources have been diverted.Where are the UN human rights agencies -probably getting ready for the French global fest for condemnation of Israel.

    kenyaninwhitehouse
    kenyaninwhitehouse
    7 years ago

    just like the black Africans had it better under apartheid so too the Arabs in Gaza and Judea and Samaria (referred to by anti-Semites as the West Bank) have it better under so called occupation.

    stamm
    stamm
    7 years ago

    and all these human loving leftists want to give palestenians a state where they will be ruled by hamas?? the Palestinians are so dumb they dont realize that they are better of in e jerusalem under israel rule then under hamas.
    I JUST DONT GET IT?? WE should risk our secutiry and give more territory to hamas? 20 ARAB COUNTRIES IS NOT ENOUGH???.

    lazy-boy
    Active Member
    lazy-boy
    7 years ago

    Hamas has plenty of money to buy weapons, dig tunnels, train terrorists, and fortify the upper echelon’s homes, but no money to help the simple Arab.

    They voted for Hamas, they support Hamas, let them lump it.

    Meloah
    Meloah
    7 years ago

    I think they don’t want to invest in infrastructure because they know it will get destroyed in the next war. They also want to make Palestinians life miserable to then condemn Israel blockage for it. They want the world to see Palestinian suffering due to “imprisonment”. I think this is part of the plan, to allow the pals to live with the least amount of resources…