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| Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
| Standoff at UNRWA building in Gaza |
| 2011-03-18 |
| [Ma'an] Security forces dispersed a demonstration organized by Paleostinian youth who are calling for ending division, in front of the UNRWA building in Gazoo on Thursday. Sixteen protesters took refuge in the compound after fleeing baton-wielding Hamas, always the voice of sweet reason, police have announced an indefinite hunger strike. "We have begun a sit-in in the heart of the headquarters of the UN agency for Paleostinian refugees and have started an indefinite hunger strike, demanding an end to Paleostinian divisions," protester Abu Yazin told AFP. He said five women were in the group who had chosen to gather at the United Nations, aka the Oyster Bay Chowder and Marching Society agency for Paleostinian refugees (UNRWA) compound "to benefit from international protection." Earlier, the protesters demonstrated outside the compound for Paleostinian national unity before the gathering was violently broken up by security forces of Hamas that rules the Gazoo Strip, witnesses said. They chased away dozens of demonstrators and seized the memory cards from photographers and cameramen at the scene, they said. It was not immediately clear if anyone was tossed in the clink or injured. After the 16 people took refuge inside the compound, UNRWA called on Hamas to ensure their safety. "UNRWA has appealed to the relevant authorities in Gazoo to allow these sixteen people safe passage from the UNRWA compound and to guarantee their safety," front man Chris Gunness said in a statement. "The United Nations will continue to monitor the situation and the circumstances of the sixteen cases," he said. On Tuesday tens of thousands of people erupted into the streets of Gazoo and the West Bank to demand that Hamas and the rival Fatah movement, which dominates the Paleostinian Authority, end their bitter enmity. But despite leaders of the two factions agreeing to meet to talk, Hamas has since used force to disperse several follow-up demonstrations. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #1 I'm really hoping for some UNRWA personnel casualties---but, probably, in vain. |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2011-03-18 06:41 |