With Little to Show, Gazans Question Mass Border Protests

W460

Gaza's Hamas rulers are facing a rare and growing chorus of criticism, with little to show after 18 months of mass protests along the Israeli frontier organized by the Palestinian militant group.

The mass protests at the frontier with Israel were meant to draw attention to the plight of the territory's 2 million people. When the protests began, Hamas quickly seized upon the popular idea and transformed the quiet gatherings into violent confrontations.

Under its direction, thousands of Palestinians have gathered at five sections of the fence each week, facing off against Israeli forces perched on earth mounds and in sniper positions. The Israeli troops fire live shots, rubber-covered steel pellets and tear gas, in what Israel says is a legitimate tactic to defend against attacks and border infiltrations.

Comments 4
Missing phillipo 11 October 2019, 12:23

Maybe one of these days the civilian population of Gaza will finally understand that Hamas is leading them by the nose,and in fact has no intention of improving their standard of living. All Hamas is interested in is attacking Israel, and at present is using the civilian population in their Friday demonstations to try and push their aims.

Thumb lebanon_first 11 October 2019, 16:01

Pipo

"Standard of living" where the objective is the wellbeing of the individual is a concept invented by the west for the west. Adopted also by the far east.

Arabs have "ideology" instead. They burn their hearts and energies on various ideologies....

This is why arabs sink backwards while the west and the east improve

Missing arturo 11 October 2019, 17:40

The EU should establish a technology innovation center in Gaza that will employ the educated and underemployed. That is the way to help Gaza.

Thumb chrisrushlau 11 October 2019, 19:59

You and AP are eating your hearts out. The demonstrations have brought Israel to chaos.