Gazans' unpaid salaries cause rise in social tensions

Rasha Abou Jalal

Apr 9, 2015

A Palestinian employee (C) paid by the Palestinian Authority argues with employees appointed by Hamas since 2007, outside a closed bank in Gaza City June 5, 2014. A Palestinian unity government formed by President Mahmoud Abbas and the Islamist Hamas group faced its first and serious challenge on Thursday when civil servants of Hamas, who were not on the payment list, scuffled with those cashing their salaries. Civil servants employed by Hamas since 2007 arrived and prevented employees paid by the Palestini — A Palestinian employee paid by the Palestinian Authority argues with employees appointed by Hamas, outside a closed bank in Gaza City, June 5, 2014. — REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

عربي

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — The Gaza government employee salary crisis is having a severe negative impact on the social relationships of those affected. The main victims are the employees who find themselves unable to meet their families’ food needs, as debts keep accumulating and creditors demand repayment.

Nearly 42,000 employees were hired by Hamas in the Gaza Strip between 2007 and 2014. They suffer challenging living conditions as the consensus government has been withholding their salaries since it took office in June 2014.