Protest organisers accuse the Islamist party of having “kidnapped” the Strip. Living conditions in Gaza are terrible with water shortages and almost 70 per cent of the workforce unemployed. Hamas is not likely to react to the online protest, unless it turns into street demonstrations.
Gaza (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Hundreds of Palestinian activists took part in a rare online protest against Hamas, the Islamist organisation that has ruled the Strip since 2007 overthrowing the Fatah-controlled Palestinian National Authority.
The “kidnapped Gaza" protest kicked off on Thursday with an audio chat on Twitter, organised by five Gazans who left the Palestinian territories after taking part in the "We want to live” protest of 2019.
Sparked by the high cost of food and the lack of jobs, the protest was suppressed by Hamas.
Living conditions in Gaza are catastrophic with water shortages, an inadequate sewage system and constant daily power blackouts.
Nearly 70 per cent of the local workforce is unemployed, especially among university graduates.
The COVID-19 pandemic and the spring 2021 confrontation with Israel worsened the economic situation in the Strip.
The people behind the online protest accuse Hamas of stashing billions of dollars abroad, whilst Gazans are starving or forced to emigrate.
Analysts expect the extremist group not to react to online criticism unless it turns into street demonstrations like those of 2019.