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Life in the Gaza Strip
After two weeks of Hamas, a tense quiet in Gaza.
By Ilene R. Prusher | Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitorand Safwat al-Kahlout | Correspondent of The Christian Science Monitor
from the June 28, 2007 edition
Page 1 of 4
Jerusalem and GAZA CITY, GAZA - Over and over again, one song is heard:
Hamsawi ma yihab il-mot.
It trails from radios everywhere, on the only station in Gaza.
Hamsawi kermal id-din.
"A Hamas fighter is not afraid of death. A Hamas fighter is for the sake of religion!"
Catchy, high-stepping, and jingoistic, it is the tune that plays all day long on Hamas's Al Aqsa Radio, the only one that remains standing after the turbulent ousting of its Palestinian rival Fatah earlier this month. From the airwaves to the imams' sermons, the message here is one of self-congratulation: for routing corrupt officials, for bringing a feeling of calm after months of internecine gun battles.
But closer to the ground, unofficial channels convey a deep sense of uncertainty. Some say they're relieved that the internal fighting over, while many others express a fear for the future – especially when the local storekeeper suddenly stops selling them food on credit, and when Israeli jets thunder overhead.
Gazans saw more bloodshed Wednesday, following Israeli army incursions near the Gaza-Israel border. Palestinian officials say that the clashes left 13 dead. According to hospital officials another 40 people were wounded by Israeli shells in Gaza City.
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