JERUSALEM (AP) January,6 – Khaled Shurrab has waited more than half his life to leave Gaza. The 27-year-old had never left the coastal enclave blocked by Israel and Egypt since 2007. He couldn’t find his job. Youth unemployment in the region is above his 60%. Like more and more Gazans, he packed his life into a suitcase, eventually ending up in Turkey and embarking on a perilous voyage to Greece last October. When his rickety boat sank, his body disappeared into the sea. More and more Gazans are drowning in the sea trying to find a better life abroad. The devastating march sparked a rare outburst of anger against the region’s militant Hamas rulers. Some of them have gone on their own very different escapes.
In recent months, prominent Hamas officials have quietly retreated to luxury hotels in Beirut, Doha and Istanbul, leaving 2.3 million Gazans abroad to luxuriate while the domestic economy is collapsing. It’s pissing off the locals who live their lives. A small territory ravaged by conflict. Her four wars and dozens of minor skirmishes against Israel have taken a toll in casualties, damage and isolation.
Israel and Egypt say tight restrictions on movement are needed to stop Hamas from stockpiling more weapons. Critics say the lockdown amounts to collective punishment as residents grapple with daily power outages and recurring shortages of basic necessities.
Former government spokesman Taher Nunow and Prime Minister Ibrahim Salah have moved to Doha, the capital of Qatar. Senior member Salah al-Bardawil, spokesman Sami Abu Zuri and dozens of aides have also settled in Doha, Istanbul or Beirut, according to media reports and official Hamas statements.
Turkey, in particular, has long been a popular destination for Hamas leaders and supporters due to its lenient visa policy for members of organizations that the United States and Europe consider terrorist organizations.
Some children of Hamas leaders are making lucrative real estate deals for their parents in Istanbul, according to a Palestinian businessman familiar with their company. He spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation.
Hamas has not commented on reports that its leader has withdrawn from Gaza for fear of public backlash. As social media fills with revelations, leaders’ trips abroad are portrayed as temporary trips abroad aimed at garnering support. Some of these tours last for years.
Last month, public outrage exploded at a mass funeral for Gaza youths who drowned en route to Europe. The disheartened family accused Hamas of contributing to the disruption and disruption of life in Gaza, and blamed Islamist extremist groups for nepotism and corruption.
Mourners called out the names of leaders such as Haniyah, the current leader of Hamas in Gaza, and Yehya Singhwal, chanting, “The people are the victims!”
Such resistance is rare, as Hamas seeks to cover up almost all evidence of its dissent, but it remains the most popular group in its homeland of Gaza.
A recent poll by the Center for Palestinian Policy and Opinion Research found that 43% of Gaza’s residents would support the group if general elections were held. The numbers were about the same as the support level three months ago.
A report released in November by the Palestinian Council for International Relations, a think tank linked to Hamas, said 60,000 young people had fled the Gaza Strip in recent years.
