Hamas has moved to restore law and order in Gaza, including putting traffic cops at busy intersections to direct traffic. We passed a particularly tough looking bearded militant-turned-traffic cop and I couldn’t help but reflect on how dreary governing must now seem to a lot of these guys. To go from masked, gun-toting, rebel militant to whistle blowing traffic cop doesn’t seem like a very thrilling step up to me.
And they have their own style of traffic policing as well. They do it with a sort of Islamic flare. We double parked so my fixer could get cigarettes today and a Hamas traffic cop in a yellow vest came up to the window. He wanted us to move our car, but said simply: “Bow to God.” Somehow it was all that needed to be said, because our driver instantly understood and pulled ahead into a parking spot.
Cigarettes stocks seem to already be drying up. Cig vendors only have the worst brands left. No more Marlboro Lights or L & M even. Prices on smokes are already up 20 percent in Gaza, from 10 shekels to 12 shekels. Last year, during the height of the Israeli siege after Gilad Shalit, a pack of cigarettes went for as much as 35 shekels.
At the Erez crossing today we met a Palestinian looter who made us look at some of the looters at least in a slightly different light. He was tearing out copper wiring from under the pavement at the Erez border tunnel. He was working his way down the walk, and at every spot where an electric light had been, he had used a hand held hammer to smash through a foot of concrete. He then dug into the ground another three feet perhaps until he found the underground wiring and tore out the copper. He had done this in at least a dozen different locations so far. Each kilo of copper wire he pulled, could be sold for 10 shekels ($2.50). In four hours of digging he had pulled 3 - 4 kilos, he said.
I mean, this guy was working tirelessly and doing back breaking work to get this wiring. This wasn’t some looter who thought he’d grab a quick TV when no one was looking. I just thought it very telling that one of Gaza’s hardest working people had no other options than to loot for $2.50/hour.
14 responses so far ↓
1 Leila // Jun 18, 2007 at 7:48 pm
I love the detail you give - reading every day. It’s a very human take, far from the ‘mainstream’ news (politicians and posturing from journalists who hang out in hotels never get their hands dirty). But take care! Leila
2 Jonathan // Jun 18, 2007 at 9:36 pm
I agree. Discovered this blog a couple of days ago and can’t wait for every new post. Keep going.
3 LessThanExpert // Jun 19, 2007 at 12:26 am
Charles,
I was wondering if I could pose a few questions at this point. How complete is Hamas’ control of Gaza and to what extent do you think they will go to hound and arrest Fatah militants? Is Hamas’s intention to use ‘persecution’ of Fatah members as leverage on the West Bank government? Do you have any idea how the person-on-the-street feels about the situation? The Alan Johnston situation has highlighted fragmentation among Palestinian armed groups, is that going to be a danger or is Hamas more or less able to put down smaller paramilitary groups (Army of Islam, PFLP, etc.) who might try to challenge their control?
4 ns // Jun 19, 2007 at 3:08 am
great work, charles. I was hoping you could clarify for myself and other readers the broad breakdown of Gaza’s economic activity, meaning, how does Gaza keep from collapsing? Is it UNRWA, smuggling, trade with Israel/Egypt, or all of the above? The looters obviously signal deep crisis, but what keeps things from the tipping point? Thanks
5 ns // Jun 19, 2007 at 3:17 am
well, the ny times has this, but anything you can add would be great…
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/19/world/middleeast/19mideast.html
6 Michael // Jun 19, 2007 at 4:16 am
Agreed– just discovered this blog & am finding it engrossing. Much better than what I can get in the MSM.
Keep up the good work, Charles, & be safe.
7 Andrea Fuzzi // Jun 19, 2007 at 7:31 am
Not everybody must really do it in fact,there are counsellors and supporters,that are exaggerated about the 08 races
8 More from Gaza « Michael P.F. van der Galiën // Jun 19, 2007 at 9:53 am
[…] 19th, 2007 by mvdg Charles Levinson continues to blog about the situation in Gaza. It seems that Hamas is - slowly but surely - making it impossible for […]
9 Charles Levinson // Jun 19, 2007 at 11:06 pm
Lessthanexpert —
How complete is Hamas’ control of Gaza?
I think Hamas is more in control than Fatah has been at any time in the last 18 months. It’s too early to call though just how in control it is. And Gaza has a lot of guns, and a lot of powerful clans. The 18 months of lawlessness and anarchy coupled with a very weak central government in Gaza have really strengthened the clans, as Gazans increasingly turned to tribal ties to solve their problems rather than the police, courts, gov’t etc. Hamas’ difficulties wrangling Alan Johnston free of the Dagmush clan is an early indication that it probably doesn’t yet have the power it would like. Which brings me to your last question.
The Alan Johnston situation has highlighted fragmentation among Palestinian armed groups, is that going to be a danger or is Hamas more or less able to put down smaller paramilitary groups (Army of Islam, PFLP, etc.) who might try to challenge their control?
It’s a big question that all of us, especially Gazans themselves are waiting to find out the answer to. The Army of Islam and PFLP won’t challenge Hamas. Disgruntled ex-Fatah groups may pose something of a challenge especially if they launch some kind of guerilla resistance campaign against Hamas. I’m not sure how likely a concerted campaign is. My instinct is Fatah is pretty well licked and unable to mount anything more than sporadic , irksome attacks on Hamas. But Hamas’ ability or inability to reign in the assorted clans and armed groups in Gaza will be a key factor in determining how ordinary Gazans judge their rule.
Do you have any idea how the person-on-the-street feels about the situation?
I think the average Gazan wants the infighting to stop and they want law and order to return. If Hamas can get the rampant criminal gangs in check and bring a semblance of peace and stability to Gaza’s violent streets, I think Gazans will forgive almost any other transgression.
To what extent do you think they will go to hound and arrest Fatah militants?
There are going to be at least a handful of Fatah militants they are going to be intent on capturing and perhaps trying in some sort of Hamas court and even executing still. But I don’t foresee it being widespread and i don’t see it extending to the security forces too much.
Is Hamas’s intention to use ‘persecution’ of Fatah members as leverage on the West Bank government?
If Israel, Abbas and the US pursue the policy they look set to pursue, the “feed the West Bank/starve Gaza” policy,” then I think Hamas is more likely to launch anti-israel attacks from the West Bank as a means of leverage and in a bid to sabotage the Israel-West Bank relationship. Hamas, to rule effectively, is going to have to set about healing the Fatah-Hamas rift at least in Gaza and so I wouldn’t expect it to get too carried away with persecuting Fatah members. Of course, if Fatah loyalists mount some sort of insurgency or resistance, then all bets are off.
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