By Xinhua,
Gaza : Palestinian Islamic Hamas movement on Thursday called on its supporters to join a rally in eastern Gaza City near an Israeli commercial crossing in protest against the embargo imposed by Israel one year ago.
Hamas made the call through mosques, saying the people should gather in Gaza City’s mosques at Thursday noon prayer before making their way to the Karni crossing.
Over the past two days, Hamas has been calling on its supporters and the Palestinian people to march towards the Israeli commercial crossing “to break the siege.”
“The people have run out of patience and they have decided to break the siege with any means, even if the cost was their lives,” said Ashraf Abu Dayya, a Hamas spokesman.
A week ago, Hamas supporters demonstrated near Erez crossing into Israel in northern Gaza Strip. Israeli soldiers and helicopters fired overhead to prevent about 5,000 Palestinians from getting closer to Erez gates. A boy was moderately hurt in the shooting.
Israel sealed off the Gaza Strip in June 2007 when Hamas took over the territory by force from the security forces loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, closing all crossings into the strip and reducing fuel supplies.
The economic sanctions have led to the death of more than 160 patients so far, according to Palestinian reports.