Palestinian officers demand wages
More than 5,000 angry Palestinian security officers marched through the streets of Gaza City, firing in the air, throwing rocks at the parliament building and shutting down the centre of the city in the most intense outburst of anger at the Hamas-led government since widespread strikes began three days ago.
The security officers’ protest demanding that the Hamas-led government pay them their long overdue wages led to fears that the labour unrest could spiral into violence across the already chaotic Gaza Strip.
The protest had been banned yesterday by President Mahmoud Abbas, who said security officers did not have the right to hold marches against the government.
However, thousands of armed police began gathering in the streets of Gaza City this morning in preparation for the protest.
Shops along the protest route throughout downtown were shuttered and closed, some in solidarity and others fearing violence.
The protesting officer waved banners, fired in the air and called for the government to resign if it could not pay their salaries.
