Mohammed Mikdad makes his way to a health center for treatment. He was shot in the leg by an Israeli sniper in May. By Loveday Morris and Loveday Morris Jerusalem bureau chief covering the Middle East Email Bio Follow Hazem Balousha March 29 at 5:00 AM GAZA CITY — Mohammed Mikdad used to spend his Friday afternoons at the fence that runs along Gaza’s border, taking part in weekly demonstrations against Israel. They were fun, he said, and he didn’t have much else to do.
Mikdad has spent recent Fridays begging outside of the local mosque in Gaza. The tangible rewards for Gaza’s 2 million residents have been modest. Hamas secured a temporary deal under which Israel allowed the injection of Qatari funding into the territory to pay for salaries and fuel. Youth unemployment, however, stands at 65 percent, poverty is widespread and disillusionment with both the demonstrations and Hamas is growing among a population who have paid with their blood.
Desperate to deliver better living conditions and deflect mounting frustrations, Hamas has again tried to ramp up pressure on Israel in recent weeks, analysts say. The Palestinians have sent more than a dozen incendiary balloons across the border into Israel, an activity Hamas had agreed to stop. A rocket, which the Israeli military said was launched by Hamas, struck a house near Tel Aviv on Monday, triggering Israeli airstrikes on Gaza and more rocket volleys from the enclave.
Over the past year, in an effort to squeeze its rival Hamas, the Palestinian Authority axed the pay of thousands of salaried workers in Gaza, draining millions from the economy and adding to the misery caused by more than a decade of tight Israeli restrictions on the movement of people and goods in and out of the territory.Mikdad adjusts his leg brace every six hours to help his shattered bone mend.
“It doesn’t solve the problem; it’s a painkiller,” Mkhaimar Abusada, a political science professor at Gaza’s al-Azhar University, said of the deal. Doctors Without Borders says it has treated more than 4,000 gunshot wounds over the past year in five clinics. Outside, young men with bandaged legs and crutches sit on the street.
The commission’s findings were rejected by Israel, which has said it is investigating 11 deaths on the border. Although the Israeli military has not fully disclosed its rules of engagement, officials have said that the use of live ammunition can be warranted when protesters endanger the fence.
BDS
Missiles and fire bombs aimed at civilians were a part of their “protests”.
should know as favourite Qatari propaganda outlet ,your entitle to ask your new owner Qatari emir : how Hamas terrorists leaders becomes billionaires ? & could it be the cause of pushing the poor Palestinian to the street , that they got more money .
Its a good questions. Americans know about that ? I think this question should asking specially Americans. Why are they supporting Israel massacre ? I want to know that.
I can't believe you're even reporting on it considering how your country supports the ongoing genocide of Palestinians. fuckamericanmedia boycottapartheid ICC4israel
Freedom takes alot of hard working deaths and protest!!