GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip: Several thousand people briefly took to the streets across the Gaza Strip on Sunday to protest chronic power outages and difficult living conditions, providing a rare public show of discontent with the territory鈥檚 Hamas government. Hamas security forces quickly dispersed the gatherings.
Marches took place in Gaza City, the southern town of Khan Younis and other locations, chanting 鈥渨hat a shame鈥� and in one place burning Hamas flags, before police moved in and broke up the protests.
Police destroyed mobile phones of people who were filming in Khan Younis, and witnesses said there were several arrests. Dozens of young supporters and opponents of Hamas briefly faced off, throwing stones at one another.
The demonstrations were organized by a grassroots online movement called 鈥渁lvirus alsakher,鈥� or 鈥渢he mocking virus.鈥� It was not immediately known who is behind the movement.
Hamas rules Gaza with an iron fist, barring most demonstrations and quickly stamping out public displays of dissent.
The Islamic militant group seized control of Gaza in 2007 from the forces of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, prompting Israel and Egypt to impose a crippling blockade on the territory. Israel says the closure is needed to prevent Hamas, which does not recognize Israel鈥檚 right to exist, from building up its military capabilities.
The closure has devastated Gaza鈥檚 economy, sent unemployment skyrocketing and led to frequent power outages. During the current heat wave, people have been receiving four to six hours of power a day due to heavy demand.
鈥淲here is the electricity and where is the gas?鈥� the crowds shouted in Khan Younis. 鈥淲hat a shame. What a shame.鈥�
Protesters also criticized Hamas for deducting a roughly $15 fee from monthly $100 stipends given to Gaza鈥檚 poorest families by the wealthy Gulf state of Qatar.
There was no immediate comment from the Hamas authorities.