Thread by @rafsanchez

Hamas security forces reportedly used batons and fired in the air to break up demonstrations in #Gaza today.

People were protesting high prices and bad conditions in Gaza.

Hamas police spokesman: “A group of people with no permits went into a protest today. Some of them closed roads and burned tires, we had to maintain discipline. Some were arrested”. Via @abubakrbashir4

Hamas strategy has long been to channel public anger outwards against Israel.

Their biggest fear is that it one day turns inwards against them and their rule inside Gaza.

Reports from Gaza that protests are beginning for a second day in Der al-Balah. Hamas police are on the scene.

Protests in Gaza are continuing for third day. Video purports to show Hamas police forcefully breaking up a demonstration in Khan Younes.

Hamas is reportedly staging its own demonstration against Abbas now, in an apparent effort to divert public anger in Gaza.

In a widely-shared video from Gaza, a mother rails against Hamas.

“Our sons and daughters have lost 12 years of their lives. For what? Each son of a Hamas official owns an apartment, a car, a jeep, a building...While our sons have nothing at all."

Hamas put out a statement Sunday saying it "had prioritized the humanitarian needs of the Palestinian people" and "fights with all means possible to restore the Palestinian rights".

Statement doesn't specifically reference the protests. hamas.ps/en/post/1984/

Hamas' crackdown was condemned by @nmladenov, UN envoy for Israeli-Palestinian peace.

"I strongly condemn the campaign of arrests and violence used by Hamas security forces against protesters, including women and children, in Gaza".

Hamas leadership makes conciliatory noises but Hamas members call the protesters "the tails of the Jews, the dogs of Fatah in Gaza". Story with @abubakrbashir4 telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/03/1…