Hamas guards beat Gaza protesters

gaza city -- Security men for Gaza’s Hamas rulers clubbed opponents staging a rare protest Monday, seized the cameras of journalists covering the event and raided media offices to prevent images from being shown.

The crackdown was the latest in a series of moves to quash voices opposing the Islamic militant group, including the breaking up of private parties Friday and Monday where people were singing songs of the rival Fatah movement.

After Hamas gunmen in the Gaza Strip routed forces loyal to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and his Fatah faction in June, the militant group declared an amnesty for former Fatah fighters.

Yet when Fatah and allied groups announced plans for Monday’s rally, Hamas banned “all demonstrations and public gatherings” that do not have official permission.

Buses carrying protesters were halted by Hamas guards, who beat passengers and seized Fatah flags. But about 300 people got past the militia cordon and demonstrated for 20 minutes, shouting, “We want freedom! We want to raise our voice!”

Security officers arrested several demonstrators and confiscated equipment from news photographers and cameramen.

Hamas squads also raided the Gaza offices of media organizations, looking for material from the rally. Staffers at satellite television broadcaster Al Arabiya said the militiamen seized a camera and videotape there.

The Palestinian journalists union urged its members to protest by observing a three-day boycott of any events organized by the Hamas militia, known as the Executive Force.

The Gaza fighting in June, during which about 100 people were killed and 500 wounded, deepened the bitter political rivalry between Hamas and Fatah.

After the Hamas takeover of Gaza, Abbas expelled Hamas from the Palestinian coalition government and formed a West Bank-based administration of moderates in its place.

Undeterred, deposed Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh pledged to impose law and order in the formerly anarchic Gaza Strip. But his Executive Force is gaining a reputation for heavy-handedness, particularly when dealing with Fatah supporters.

Hamas did not comment directly on Monday’s incidents. But in a statement it said the Executive Force was a nonpartisan enforcer of public order.