(AP) Hamza Hendawi - "We do not want to be bombarded every two or three years," said Ziad Rizk, a 37-year-old father of two, as he stared at the damaged apartment building where he lived in Beit Lahiya in Gaza. The men who spoke with AP were all neighbors who live in Al-Nada Towers, a collection of apartment buildings that was hit hard. They have no love for Israel, though older members of the community fondly remembered the days when they commuted to Israel for day jobs that put food on the table. Hamas has ruled with an iron fist since it took over Gaza. It does not tolerate dissent, detains critics and carries out extrajudicial executions of alleged spies for Israel. It is particularly intolerant of any criticism of its handling of the conflict with Israel. In almost every square and major intersection in Gaza City, giant billboards extoll the battlefield valor of Hamas fighters, their quest for martyrdom and their locally manufactured rockets.
2014-08-18 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive