Mass funeral in Gaza draws tears, rare criticism of Hamas

Source: Associated Press

Mass funeral in Gaza draws tears, rare criticism of Hamas

By WAFAA SHURAFA and FARES AKRAM
December 18, 2022

KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — Thousands of people on Sunday joined the funerals of eight young Palestinian men who drowned off the coast of Tunisia nearly two months ago as they tried to sail to new lives in Europe.

The drownings have reverberated across Gaza, drawing attention to the dire conditions in the territory after a 15-year Israeli-Egyptian blockade but also prompting some rare public criticism of the ruling Hamas militant group.

“The government that governs us here is the reason. It’s to blame. It’s to blame,” said Naheel Shaath, whose 21-year-old son Adam was among the dead. “I blame all officials here who don’t care for the youths or provide job opportunities for them.”

Israel and Egypt imposed the blockade after Hamas seized control of Gaza from the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority in 2007.

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Read more: https://apnews.com/article/africa-israel-egypt-gaza-strip-drownings-7ecc599b7a14b780253b7358afc9e12f