Hamas militants organize protests amid worsening conditions that end with several Palestinian deaths in clashes with Israeli forces

Hamas, the Islamic militant group that rules Gaza, is stepping up protests at its border with Israel to signal frustration with stalled talks with its neighbor, prompting new deadly clashes with Israeli forces.

In recent days, the Palestinian group has organized more frequent protests, including one involving 10,000 people on Friday in which one person was killed and 41 injured, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health. Two Palestinians were killed on Tuesday during a protest against Israel and Egypt’s longstanding economic blockade on Gaza. A demonstrator was killed Wednesday in a separate demonstration.

Israel’s military defends its response to the protests, saying it is necessary to defend its borders from explosive devices, flaming kites, rocks thrown at Israeli forces and attempts to breach the border security fence.

Abdelateef Al Kano, a Hamas spokesman, said Israel is “burning time” and that the uptick in protests is aimed at demonstrating frustration in the Gaza Strip, as prospects dim for a long-term calm with Israel and an easing the blockade.

Talks this summer between Israel and Hamas—with Egypt as an intermediary—aimed at calming tensions that have bubbled up after relative calm since the end of the 2014 war between them haven’t yielded results. The two sides remain at an impasse over a prisoner exchange and other issues.

The Palestinian Authority, which leads Palestinians in the West Bank and is the international community’s only recognized negotiating partner, has refused to engage in a peace process led by the Trump administration, which they say is biased toward Israel and has taken unduly harsh measures against them.

Jason Greenblatt, President Trump’s special envoy for international negotiations, said on Twitter Friday: “Sadly Hamas continues to choose violence over building a better future for Palestinians.”

Humanitarian conditions are worsening in Gaza. The United Nations has said the territory will be unlivable by 2020 if current trends continue. Economic growth is near zero, unemployment is 44% and consumer spending has plummeted.

Gazans live with three to six hours of electricity a day due to shortages and more than half of the Gaza Strip’s nearly two million residents receive food assistance from the United Nations.

Refat Fora, a 48-year-old protestor, said on Friday that Palestinians are seeking a change in the dire conditions in Gaza.

“People are jobless and no one makes money. People need jobs,” he said. “I believe we can put enough pressure on officials. The Israelis don’t feel comfortable; we will keep it this way.”

A political solution for their problems appears far off.

Egypt has also mediated reconciliation talks between Fatah, which runs the West Bank via the Palestinian Authority, and Hamas. Those conversations also have yielded little. Much of the international community see the talks as critical to begin longer-term efforts to improve the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza.

Protests at the Gaza border fence have been consistent since March 30, but participation peaked at 40,000 in May when the U.S. moved its embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv despite protests by the Palestinians and the international community. More than 180 Palestinians have been killed in clashes with Israel’s military since March. One Israeli soldier was shot by a sniper in Gaza.

Source:
@BRUDIRECT.COM

by Felicia Schwartz in Tel Aviv and Abu Bakr Bashir

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