Palestinian lights himself on fire on 3rd day of Gaza riots against Hamas

Man in serious condition, had been evicted for unpaid rent; Ramallah asks Egypt to intervene; PLO official: ‘This is not the occupation, it’s Hamas gangs terrorizing Gaza’ -



A senior Palestinian official said Saturday that the Ramallah-based leadership has asked Egypt to pressure Hamas over the violent suppression of protests, as a man set himself alight during the 3rd day of demonstrations in Gaza against the Hamas group and the dire economic conditions in the enclave.



PLO Executive Committee member Wasel Abu-Youssef told Israeli media that the Palestinian representative to Egypt and the Arab League, Diab al-Louh, has called for an emergency high-level meeting of the regional organization to discuss the situation in Gaza. When asked if the meeting would discuss the violent suppression of protests, Abu Yousef said that it would.



According to Palestinian media reports, Qatar has also been asked to intervene in the escalating violence.



Palestinians in the Gaza Strip took to the streets on Saturday for the third successive day, with unverified footage emerging which appears to show a protester setting himself alight.



According to Channel 12 news, Ahmed Abu Tahn self-immolated after he was unable to pay his rent and was evicted from his home. He was reportedly hospitalized in serious condition. There were also conflicting reports about whether he has died.



In response to a video of Hamas forces suppressing demonstrations, a close confidant of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas tweeted his outrage.



“This is not the Israeli occupation forces!!” Fatah Central Committee member Hussein al-Sheikh said. “It is the Hamas gangs that are terrorizing and suppressing the hungry in the Gaza Strip.”



The Ynet news site reported that at least 80 demonstrators affiliated with the Fatah movement had been arrested over the past 24 hours.