Gaza Sees Rise in Violence, Crime
Violence and lawlessness are on the rise in Gaza, reports Hazem Balousha.
Violence has been rife in Gaza but reached its peak in mid-2007, when clashes erupted between political rivals Hamas and Fatah, in a battle that resembled a civil war that left many wounded and dead. The Gaza Strip has also suffered from military confrontations with Israel, not to mention the political and economic blockade, which has led to increased violence in Gazan society.
The coastal enclave suffers from high population density, given the limited area of 360 square km [138 square miles], inhabited by nearly 2 million people. In addition, 70% of refugees, nearly half a million people, live in eight camps set up by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).
