Hamas prevented the entry of the daily newspapers (AlQuds, AlHayat Aljadeeda, AlAyyam) to Gaza as of 28/7/2008, accusing these newspapers of not being neutral in the conflict underway between Hamas and Fatah. Hamas declared on 23/8/2008 that it will permit only the entry of Al-Quds newspaper to Gaza, on the condition that their articles on Hamas are neutralized. Furthermore, they closed the radio of PFLP for 3 days.
On 28/8/2008 the syndicate of teachers announced a strike including the Ministry of Education employees and teachers in Gaza (initially for 4 days), because of the maltreatment they suffer from the Hamas regime. On 30/8/2008 the employees of the Ministry of Health announced a strike because of the same reason (also initially for 4 days).
As stated by both syndicates and due to the harsh and tough treatment and reactions of Hamas against the employees of both ministries, their syndicates instructed the employees to continue their strike. Both strikes been extended week after week (up to 21/10/2008).
The Islamic Jihad arranged for a peaceful gathering on 5/9/2008, rejecting the way Hamas dealt with the teachers who went on strike, as some of them had been captured. Indeed, security forces of the Ministry of Interior of the deposed government had forcefully dispersed the gathering and captured some of the teachers for interrogation. It is worth mentioning that among the teachers who had been captured, was Mohammed Abdullah Shallah (Brother of Islamic Jihad leader).
Spokesperson of the ministry of interior Eihab Ghussain claimed that the organizers of the gathering didn't apply for a permit from the ministry.
On 9/9/2008 it was declared by both Hamas and Islamic Jihad, that their leaders had a joint meeting on 8/9/2008 in Damascus, to resolve the flare-up between the two movements, where both movements asserted their strategic relations, adding that minor disagreements and events on the ground will not affect the depth of their relations. Also they agreed on solving all disputes between both sides in a peaceful manner, and to concentrate on the armed resistance against the Israeli occupation (According to the American Task Force on Palestine ATFP – 11/9/2008).
Regarding the strikes of the governmental employees in Gaza, The Palestinian NGOs net (PNGO) declared on 9/9/2008 that they don’t agree for politicizing the service of civil society departments and asked for the following.
• An end to all types of strikes
• Asking the PA government in Ramallah not to cut governmental employees salaries for political reasons.
• Asking Hamas deposed government, not to fire, detain, or put aside any governmental employee due to his political convictions.
The Hamas deposed government in Gaza was still forbidding any Fatah activity and even prohibited raising flags or other signs on Fatah centers. In Gaza one can see only Hamas banners in the streets, even during the Ramadan holy month for Muslims. Years before, one could notice banners from all Palestinian factions on public, religious, political or other occasions.
In the mean time and after the Calmness Agreement took place, Hamas stationed a check point at Erez, for Gaza citizens leaving Gaza to Israel or to the West Bank or coming to Gaza from there. This check point had limited the movement of Fatah persons who wanted to leave to the West Bank and in most cases they were asked by Hamas security officers to go back to Gaza, as they should get a permit from the Ministry Of Interior of the Hamas Deposed Government. These actions included 2 members of the PLO executive committee, Dr. Zakareyya Agha and Dr. Reyadh Khoudary, who were not able to join the meetings of the committee. However on 19/9/2008, Dr. Agha and Ibrahim Abu Naja left Gaza through Erez to join the Fatah delegation for the dialogue with the Egyptian officials for Palestinian reconciliation without problems.
One can wonder if the creation or restoring of activities by new Islamic extremist parties in Gaza can be considered a matter of freedom of expression. Early September 2008, a press statement announced the restoration and the commencement of the activities of an Islamic party called Hezb Al-Tahreer (Party for Liberation) which was established in the year 1953. On 4/10/2008 a press statement announced the creation of a new organization called "Hezbollah Brigades in Palestine", which was established in the Palestinian territories to resist the occupation.
The statement explained that the organization's goals were the Jihad for the sake of God and to resist the enemies of Islam, adding that it was a Sunni organization, dealing with the resistance only, having nothing to do with political affairs. But in the meantime it will not get out of the public interest. Regarding the relationship with the Lebanese organization Hezbollah, the statement emphasized on the strategy of the Lebanese Hezbollah resistance, and denied any organizational links to the Lebanese Democratic Party, adding that "all that binds us is our love for Islam and the style of resistance."
The new organization emphasized the national reconciliation process, saying that it will not be a party to any internal strife. They furthermore will stand with the prisoners, and promised that the top priority of the organization will be to follow the steps of martyrs and promised to walk in their footsteps, recalling the martyrs "Hajj Radwan (Emad Mughneyyie of Hezbollah), Yasser Arafat, Ahmed Yassin, Fathi Shikaki, and Sheikh Abbas Musawi."
On 17/10/2008 Luisa Morgantini (Vice Chairman of The EU Parliament) sent two questions to the EU Parliament concerning the Israeli prevention of the Palestinian students who are registered to study at European and foreign universities. The formal answers came on 8 and 10/12/2008 that the questions were formally raised with the Israeli authorities at the meeting of the EU-Israel sub-committee on political dialogue and cooperation, on 28 October 2008, in the context of Council's repeated calls for greater freedom of movement and improved access. Also, the EU Commission is continuing to pursue the goal of ensuring that the movement of persons in and out of Gaza, including of course students without scholarships, is normalized.
On 28/8/2008 the syndicate of teachers announced a strike including the Ministry of Education employees and teachers in Gaza (initially for 4 days), because of the maltreatment they suffer from the Hamas regime. On 30/8/2008 the employees of the Ministry of Health announced a strike because of the same reason (also initially for 4 days).
As stated by both syndicates and due to the harsh and tough treatment and reactions of Hamas against the employees of both ministries, their syndicates instructed the employees to continue their strike. Both strikes been extended week after week (up to 21/10/2008).
The Islamic Jihad arranged for a peaceful gathering on 5/9/2008, rejecting the way Hamas dealt with the teachers who went on strike, as some of them had been captured. Indeed, security forces of the Ministry of Interior of the deposed government had forcefully dispersed the gathering and captured some of the teachers for interrogation. It is worth mentioning that among the teachers who had been captured, was Mohammed Abdullah Shallah (Brother of Islamic Jihad leader).
Spokesperson of the ministry of interior Eihab Ghussain claimed that the organizers of the gathering didn't apply for a permit from the ministry.
On 9/9/2008 it was declared by both Hamas and Islamic Jihad, that their leaders had a joint meeting on 8/9/2008 in Damascus, to resolve the flare-up between the two movements, where both movements asserted their strategic relations, adding that minor disagreements and events on the ground will not affect the depth of their relations. Also they agreed on solving all disputes between both sides in a peaceful manner, and to concentrate on the armed resistance against the Israeli occupation (According to the American Task Force on Palestine ATFP – 11/9/2008).
Regarding the strikes of the governmental employees in Gaza, The Palestinian NGOs net (PNGO) declared on 9/9/2008 that they don’t agree for politicizing the service of civil society departments and asked for the following.
• An end to all types of strikes
• Asking the PA government in Ramallah not to cut governmental employees salaries for political reasons.
• Asking Hamas deposed government, not to fire, detain, or put aside any governmental employee due to his political convictions.
The Hamas deposed government in Gaza was still forbidding any Fatah activity and even prohibited raising flags or other signs on Fatah centers. In Gaza one can see only Hamas banners in the streets, even during the Ramadan holy month for Muslims. Years before, one could notice banners from all Palestinian factions on public, religious, political or other occasions.
In the mean time and after the Calmness Agreement took place, Hamas stationed a check point at Erez, for Gaza citizens leaving Gaza to Israel or to the West Bank or coming to Gaza from there. This check point had limited the movement of Fatah persons who wanted to leave to the West Bank and in most cases they were asked by Hamas security officers to go back to Gaza, as they should get a permit from the Ministry Of Interior of the Hamas Deposed Government. These actions included 2 members of the PLO executive committee, Dr. Zakareyya Agha and Dr. Reyadh Khoudary, who were not able to join the meetings of the committee. However on 19/9/2008, Dr. Agha and Ibrahim Abu Naja left Gaza through Erez to join the Fatah delegation for the dialogue with the Egyptian officials for Palestinian reconciliation without problems.
One can wonder if the creation or restoring of activities by new Islamic extremist parties in Gaza can be considered a matter of freedom of expression. Early September 2008, a press statement announced the restoration and the commencement of the activities of an Islamic party called Hezb Al-Tahreer (Party for Liberation) which was established in the year 1953. On 4/10/2008 a press statement announced the creation of a new organization called "Hezbollah Brigades in Palestine", which was established in the Palestinian territories to resist the occupation.
The statement explained that the organization's goals were the Jihad for the sake of God and to resist the enemies of Islam, adding that it was a Sunni organization, dealing with the resistance only, having nothing to do with political affairs. But in the meantime it will not get out of the public interest. Regarding the relationship with the Lebanese organization Hezbollah, the statement emphasized on the strategy of the Lebanese Hezbollah resistance, and denied any organizational links to the Lebanese Democratic Party, adding that "all that binds us is our love for Islam and the style of resistance."
The new organization emphasized the national reconciliation process, saying that it will not be a party to any internal strife. They furthermore will stand with the prisoners, and promised that the top priority of the organization will be to follow the steps of martyrs and promised to walk in their footsteps, recalling the martyrs "Hajj Radwan (Emad Mughneyyie of Hezbollah), Yasser Arafat, Ahmed Yassin, Fathi Shikaki, and Sheikh Abbas Musawi."
On 17/10/2008 Luisa Morgantini (Vice Chairman of The EU Parliament) sent two questions to the EU Parliament concerning the Israeli prevention of the Palestinian students who are registered to study at European and foreign universities. The formal answers came on 8 and 10/12/2008 that the questions were formally raised with the Israeli authorities at the meeting of the EU-Israel sub-committee on political dialogue and cooperation, on 28 October 2008, in the context of Council's repeated calls for greater freedom of movement and improved access. Also, the EU Commission is continuing to pursue the goal of ensuring that the movement of persons in and out of Gaza, including of course students without scholarships, is normalized.
