2019 Gaza economic protests

<h2 id="background">Background</h2>
A year after winning the <a href="/facts/2006_Palestinian_legislative_election/Co9gL72n">2006 Palestinian legislative election</a>, Hamas took full control of the Gaza Strip in 2007 and expelled the <a href="/facts/Palestinian_Authority/AhB1P7E7">Palestinian Authority</a>; meanwhile, the Palestinian Authority attempted to put financial pressure on Hamas.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8">8</a>
After Hamas took over, Israel and Egypt tightened its <a href="/facts/Blockade_of_the_Gaza_Strip/AxDFH2Cd">blockade</a> on the region, further restricting movement of products and people; BBC reported in 2019 that the blockade became a source of economic woe.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9">9</a> In 2019, youth unemployment in the Gaza Strip was at 70% according to the <a href="/facts/World_Bank/hIH9uUb2">World Bank</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10">10</a> At the time, Hamas raised taxes in the region, including on items like cigarettes, as well as food staples like tomatoes.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11">11</a>

<h2 id="events">Events</h2>
In February, the call and hashtag "We Want to Live" started gaining traction online, specifically among several unaffiliated media activists.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12">12</a> <a href="/facts/Moumen_al-Natour/GpabjAeb">Moumen Al-Natour</a> then began using a Facebook page called "We Want to Live" to disseminate information and organize.
In-person demonstrations began on 14 March 2019 in multiple locations across Gaza.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13">13</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:14" href="#fn:14">14</a> Protesters carried signs with statements such as: "We want to live the same life of luxury, money and cars as Hamas' leaders' sons."<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:15" href="#fn:15">15</a>
The demonstrations were met with force by Hamas security; beatings and mass arrests were reported by The National.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:16" href="#fn:16">16</a> <a href="/facts/Fatah/43bcYlrX">Fatah</a> accused Hamas of threatening the families of participants and breaking into their houses.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:17" href="#fn:17">17</a> Hamas forces also arrested students at <a href="/facts/Al-Azhar_University_%25E2%2580%2593_Gaza/KNTD07Nb">al-Azhar University</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:18" href="#fn:18">18</a>
<a href="/facts/Amnesty_International/ouGBgSdS">Amnesty International</a> released a report on 18 March stating that hundreds of protesters were beat, arbitrarily arrested, detained, tortured, and subjected to "other forms of ill-treatment." Amnesty additionally reported that in the afternoon of 14 March, peaceful protesters in the <a href="/facts/Jabalia_refugee_camp/CH3AxDoP">Jabalya refugee camp</a>, <a href="/facts/Deir_al-Balah_Camp/sETNjlo8">Deir al-Balah camp</a>, <a href="/facts/Bureij/NCWpnzDy">Al-Bureij camp</a>, and <a href="/facts/Rafah/g4r1AQ3X">Rafah</a> were assaulted by Hamas security forces (some who were dressed as civilians) with <a href="/facts/Pepper_spray/opIwYmws">pepper spray</a>, batons, sound grenades, <a href="/facts/Ammunition/ajd1wm1I">ammunition</a>, and physical attacks.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:19" href="#fn:19">19</a>
The We Want to Live Facebook page called for a general strike on 20–21 March.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:20" href="#fn:20">20</a> On 21 March, a local human rights watchdog reported that over 1,000 people had been arrested in connection with the protests, some of whom had been arrested in the middle of the night at their homes.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:21" href="#fn:21">21</a> It was also reported that family members of protesters, including children, were beaten and arrested.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:22" href="#fn:22">22</a>
The Journalists Syndicate reported that Hamas security forces had beaten journalists and confiscated their cellphones and equipment.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:23" href="#fn:23">23</a> Around 45 journalists in total were arrested.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:24" href="#fn:24">24</a> Arrestees included director of the <a href="/facts/Palestinian_Broadcasting_Corporation/b5Hfw03z">Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation</a> Rafat al-Qudra<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:25" href="#fn:25">25</a> and <a href="/facts/The_Independent_Commission_for_Human_Rights/gwNo9loh">Independent Commission for Human Rights</a> director Jamil Sarhan; the latter was hospitalized.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:26" href="#fn:26">26</a> Protesters who had been released additionally reported being beaten and tortured during detainment.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:27" href="#fn:27">27</a>

<h2 id="responses">Responses</h2>

Hamas' use of force against the demonstrators was condemned by the <a href="/facts/Palestinian_National_Authority/AhB1P7E7">Palestinian National Authority</a>, as well as UN Mideast Envoy <a href="/facts/Nickolay_Mladenov/6ag90RTJ">Nickolay Mladenov</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:28" href="#fn:28">28</a>

<h2 id="see-also">See also</h2>
<ul>
<li>Palestine portal</li><li>Politics portal</li></ul>
<ul><li><a href="/facts/2023_Gaza_economic_protests/1UkWCaNH">2023 Gaza economic protests</a> and <a href="/facts/Arab_Spring/IJrjLoll">Arab Spring</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/2011%25E2%2580%25932012_Palestinian_protests/bFCaKC60">2011–2012 Palestinian protests</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/2018%25E2%2580%25932019_Gaza_border_protests/m207Vf0V">2018–2019 Gaza border protests</a></li></ul>

<h2 id="references">References</h2>

<ol>
<li id="fn:1">Humaid, Maram (19 March 2019). "Gaza rights groups denounce Hamas crackdown on protests". Al Jazeera. <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/03/gaza-rights-groups-denounce-hamas-crackdown-economic-protests-190318093948229.html" target="_blank">https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/03/gaza-rights-groups-denounce-hamas-crackdown-economic-protests-190318093948229.html</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:2">Knell, Yolande (18 March 2019). "Economic protests test Hamas's grip on Gaza". BBC News. <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-47616809" target="_blank">https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-47616809</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:3">Hass, Amira (19 March 2019). "Fatah Spokesman in Gaza Attacked by Masked Assailants Amid Protests". Haaretz. <a href="https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/palestinians/.premium-fatah-spokesman-attacked-near-home-by-masked-assailants-amid-gaza-economic-protests-1.7040526" target="_blank">https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/palestinians/.premium-fatah-spokesman-attacked-near-home-by-masked-assailants-amid-gaza-economic-protests-1.7040526</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:4">Knell, Yolande (18 March 2019). "Economic protests test Hamas's grip on Gaza". BBC News. <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-47616809" target="_blank">https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-47616809</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:5">Humaid, Maram (19 March 2019). "Gaza rights groups denounce Hamas crackdown on protests". Al Jazeera. <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/03/gaza-rights-groups-denounce-hamas-crackdown-economic-protests-190318093948229.html" target="_blank">https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/03/gaza-rights-groups-denounce-hamas-crackdown-economic-protests-190318093948229.html</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:6">Humaid, Maram (19 March 2019). "Gaza rights groups denounce Hamas crackdown on protests". Al Jazeera. <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/03/gaza-rights-groups-denounce-hamas-crackdown-economic-protests-190318093948229.html" target="_blank">https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/03/gaza-rights-groups-denounce-hamas-crackdown-economic-protests-190318093948229.html</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:7">Knell, Yolande (18 March 2019). "Economic protests test Hamas's grip on Gaza". BBC News. <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-47616809" target="_blank">https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-47616809</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:8">Knell, Yolande (18 March 2019). "Economic protests test Hamas's grip on Gaza". BBC News. <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-47616809" target="_blank">https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-47616809</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:9">Knell, Yolande (18 March 2019). "Economic protests test Hamas's grip on Gaza". BBC News. <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-47616809" target="_blank">https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-47616809</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:10">Adam, Ali (21 March 2019). "Hamas crackdown on protests snuffs out a push for change in Gaza". The National. Retrieved 5 January 2024. <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/mena/hamas-crackdown-on-protests-snuffs-out-a-push-for-change-in-gaza-1.839824" target="_blank">https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/mena/hamas-crackdown-on-protests-snuffs-out-a-push-for-change-in-gaza-1.839824</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:11">Adam, Ali (21 March 2019). "Hamas crackdown on protests snuffs out a push for change in Gaza". The National. Retrieved 5 January 2024. <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/mena/hamas-crackdown-on-protests-snuffs-out-a-push-for-change-in-gaza-1.839824" target="_blank">https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/mena/hamas-crackdown-on-protests-snuffs-out-a-push-for-change-in-gaza-1.839824</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:12">Humaid, Maram (19 March 2019). "Gaza rights groups denounce Hamas crackdown on protests". Al Jazeera. <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/03/gaza-rights-groups-denounce-hamas-crackdown-economic-protests-190318093948229.html" target="_blank">https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/03/gaza-rights-groups-denounce-hamas-crackdown-economic-protests-190318093948229.html</a> <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:13">Al-Rayes, Salem (8 April 2019). "Between a rock and resistance: how Hamas crushes dissent in Gaza". Raseef22. Retrieved 5 January 2024. <a href="https://raseef22.net/english/article/1072896-between-a-rock-and-the-resistance-how-hamas-crushes-dissent-in-gaza" target="_blank">https://raseef22.net/english/article/1072896-between-a-rock-and-the-resistance-how-hamas-crushes-dissent-in-gaza</a> <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:14">Zboun, Kifah (18 March 2019). "Hamas Arrests Dozens of Protesters in Gaza". english.aawsat.com. Retrieved 5 January 2024. <a href="https://english.aawsat.com/node/1639516" target="_blank">https://english.aawsat.com/node/1639516</a> <a href="#fnref:14" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:15">Adam, Ali (21 March 2019). "Hamas crackdown on protests snuffs out a push for change in Gaza". The National. Retrieved 5 January 2024. <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/mena/hamas-crackdown-on-protests-snuffs-out-a-push-for-change-in-gaza-1.839824" target="_blank">https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/mena/hamas-crackdown-on-protests-snuffs-out-a-push-for-change-in-gaza-1.839824</a> <a href="#fnref:15" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:16">Adam, Ali (21 March 2019). "Hamas crackdown on protests snuffs out a push for change in Gaza". The National. Retrieved 5 January 2024. <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/mena/hamas-crackdown-on-protests-snuffs-out-a-push-for-change-in-gaza-1.839824" target="_blank">https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/mena/hamas-crackdown-on-protests-snuffs-out-a-push-for-change-in-gaza-1.839824</a> <a href="#fnref:16" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:17">Zboun, Kifah (18 March 2019). "Hamas Arrests Dozens of Protesters in Gaza". english.aawsat.com. Retrieved 5 January 2024. <a href="https://english.aawsat.com/node/1639516" target="_blank">https://english.aawsat.com/node/1639516</a> <a href="#fnref:17" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:18">Zboun, Kifah (18 March 2019). "Hamas Arrests Dozens of Protesters in Gaza". english.aawsat.com. Retrieved 5 January 2024. <a href="https://english.aawsat.com/node/1639516" target="_blank">https://english.aawsat.com/node/1639516</a> <a href="#fnref:18" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:19">"Hamas must end brutal crackdown against protesters in Gaza". Amnesty International. 18 March 2019. Retrieved 28 February 2024. <a href="https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/press-release/2019/03/gaza-hamas-must-end-brutal-crackdown-against-protesters-and-rights-defenders/" target="_blank">https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/press-release/2019/03/gaza-hamas-must-end-brutal-crackdown-against-protesters-and-rights-defenders/</a> <a href="#fnref:19" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:20">"Gaza protests to continue despite Hamas expressing 'regret'". BBC Monitoring. 20 March 2019. Retrieved 5 January 2024. <a href="https://monitoring.bbc.co.uk/product/c200p2ul" target="_blank">https://monitoring.bbc.co.uk/product/c200p2ul</a> <a href="#fnref:20" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:21">Adam, Ali (21 March 2019). "Hamas crackdown on protests snuffs out a push for change in Gaza". The National. Retrieved 5 January 2024. <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/mena/hamas-crackdown-on-protests-snuffs-out-a-push-for-change-in-gaza-1.839824" target="_blank">https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/mena/hamas-crackdown-on-protests-snuffs-out-a-push-for-change-in-gaza-1.839824</a> <a href="#fnref:21" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:22">Adam, Ali (21 March 2019). "Hamas crackdown on protests snuffs out a push for change in Gaza". The National. Retrieved 5 January 2024. <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/mena/hamas-crackdown-on-protests-snuffs-out-a-push-for-change-in-gaza-1.839824" target="_blank">https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/mena/hamas-crackdown-on-protests-snuffs-out-a-push-for-change-in-gaza-1.839824</a> <a href="#fnref:22" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:23">Zboun, Kifah (18 March 2019). "Hamas Arrests Dozens of Protesters in Gaza". english.aawsat.com. Retrieved 5 January 2024. <a href="https://english.aawsat.com/node/1639516" target="_blank">https://english.aawsat.com/node/1639516</a> <a href="#fnref:23" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:24">Adam, Ali (21 March 2019). "Hamas crackdown on protests snuffs out a push for change in Gaza". The National. Retrieved 5 January 2024. <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/mena/hamas-crackdown-on-protests-snuffs-out-a-push-for-change-in-gaza-1.839824" target="_blank">https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/mena/hamas-crackdown-on-protests-snuffs-out-a-push-for-change-in-gaza-1.839824</a> <a href="#fnref:24" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:25">Zboun, Kifah (18 March 2019). "Hamas Arrests Dozens of Protesters in Gaza". english.aawsat.com. Retrieved 5 January 2024. <a href="https://english.aawsat.com/node/1639516" target="_blank">https://english.aawsat.com/node/1639516</a> <a href="#fnref:25" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:26">Adam, Ali (21 March 2019). "Hamas crackdown on protests snuffs out a push for change in Gaza". The National. Retrieved 5 January 2024. <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/mena/hamas-crackdown-on-protests-snuffs-out-a-push-for-change-in-gaza-1.839824" target="_blank">https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/mena/hamas-crackdown-on-protests-snuffs-out-a-push-for-change-in-gaza-1.839824</a> <a href="#fnref:26" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:27">Adam, Ali (21 March 2019). "Hamas crackdown on protests snuffs out a push for change in Gaza". The National. Retrieved 5 January 2024. <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/mena/hamas-crackdown-on-protests-snuffs-out-a-push-for-change-in-gaza-1.839824" target="_blank">https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/mena/hamas-crackdown-on-protests-snuffs-out-a-push-for-change-in-gaza-1.839824</a> <a href="#fnref:27" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:28">Zboun, Kifah (18 March 2019). "Hamas Arrests Dozens of Protesters in Gaza". english.aawsat.com. Retrieved 5 January 2024. <a href="https://english.aawsat.com/node/1639516" target="_blank">https://english.aawsat.com/node/1639516</a> <a href="#fnref:28" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
</ol>

2019 Gaza economic protests open-in-new

2019 Gaza economic protests