The 2019 Gaza economic protests, also called the We Want to Live protests[4][2][1] and the 14th March movement,[2] were a series of protests held in the Gaza Strip in response to high costs of living and tax hikes.
The protests were met with violence by the rulingHamas, which dispatched security forces to disperse protesters.[4] Several human rights organisations and political factions have denounced attacks on protesters by Hamas security forces.[4] The protests were described as the most severe anti-regime protests in Gaza since the Hamas takeover in 2007.[2]
Background
In 2019, youth unemployment in the Gaza Strip was at 70%, according to the World Bank.[5] At the same time, Hamas raised taxes in the enclave, including on items like cigarettes and food staples like tomatoes.[5]
Events
In February, the call and hashtag "We want to live" began gaining traction online with a group of politically unaffiliated media activists.[4] Activists began using a Facebook page called We Want to Live to disseminate information and organize.
In-person demonstrations began on March 14, 2019 in multiple locations across Gaza.[6][7] Protesters carried signs which read "we want to live the same life of luxury, money and cars as Hamas' leaders' sons".[5]
The demonstrations were met with force by Hamas security, with beatings and mass arrests reported.[5] According to Fatah, Hamas threatened the families of participants, and broke into participants' homes.[7] Hamas forces also arrested students at al-Azhar University.[7]
On March 21, groups reported that over 1,000 people had been arrested in connection with the protests, some of whom had been arrested in the middle of the night at their homes.[5] In some cases, family members of protesters, including children, were also beaten and arrested.[5]
The Journalists Syndicate reported that Hamas security forces had beaten journalists and confiscated their cellphones and equipment.[7] Around 45 journalists were arrested.[5]
