Hamas' grip on Gaza falters as workers riot over stalled wages - Daniel Siryoti and Israel Hayom Staff

by Daniel Siryoti and Israel Hayom Staff

Hundreds of Hamas employees who have not been paid in over six months riot outside Gaza government building, damaging property • Workers will be paid within days, labor minister says • We won't let the government starve our children, says protester.

Hamas employees protest outside the offices of the Palestinian unity government in Gaza City, Tuesday | Photo credit: AFP

Hundreds of Hamas employees, whose wages have not been paid in over six months, staged a sit-in demonstration outside the offices of the Palestinian unity government in Gaza City Tuesday, vowing to stay there until their salaries were paid.

The sit-in followed a protest rally, which quickly turned into a riot, during which dozens of Hamas functionaries broke into the Palestinian government's offices causing significant property damage. Palestinian media reported that several government vehicles parked nearby were torched as well. No injuries were reported as a result of the incident. 

The unity government agreement struck between Fatah and Hamas in September prompted the dismissal of thousands of Hamas employees in Gaza Strip, as the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority government informed Hamas it would not pay their wages. 

The coffers belonging to the Hamas government in Gaza are nearly empty, and the financial crisis has seen it default on the severance pay owed to those who were dismissed, as well as on the wages of thousands of other employees.

Tuesday's riot was similar to a wage protest staged by Hamas employees in June, when thousands of unpaid Gaza government functionaries stormed banks across the Strip, demanding their money. Several riots had erupted, forcing Hamas police to intervene. Banks across the Gaza Strip remained closed for several days after the riots.

Khalil al-Zayan, a spokesman for the Gaza government workers' union, told Palestinian media, "Our sit-in is peaceful and we don't want to destroy public property, but we will stay here until our members are recognized and their salaries are paid. There are people here who haven't been paid in seven months. We will not allow [the government] to cause our families to starve." 

The Palestinian government criticized the strike and denounced rioters for damaging government property. Palestinian Labor Minister Mahmoud Abu Shahla, however, promised an end the crisis as soon as possible, saying employees will be paid within days.

Ramallah sources said Israel's decision to suspend the transfers of the tax revenues it collects on behalf of the Palestinian Authority was to blame for the wage crisis.

Israel announced it would withhold the funds, following the Palestinian Authority's application to join the International Criminal Court in The Hague. The Palestinians confirmed Tuesday that Saudi Arabia has given Ramallah $60 million in financial aid, to counter Israel's decision.

Daniel Siryoti and Israel Hayom Staff

Source: http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=22793

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