哈马斯计划在加沙和以色列边境举行大规模的示威活动

Hamas Plans Huge Demonstrations² Along Gaza-Israel Border

Hamas leaders of the Palestinian territory of Gaza are asking people to march along its border with Israel in the coming weeks.

Hamas is seeking to gather large crowds to set up camps near the border beginning on Friday. It plans a number of demonstrations leading to a larger march to the border fence on May 15.

That day marks the 70th anniversary of Israel’s establishment as an independent nation. Palestinians call it “the Nakba,” or catastrophe³.

Gaza’s leaders aim to gather hundreds of thousands of people for what organizers are calling the “Great Return March.” The group has not been able to get that many people to attend past demonstrations. But members of the Israeli government are still concerned. They have promised to react strongly if demonstrators cross the border.

Hamas official Ismail Radwan said, “When we march to the border, the organizers will decide then what to do.” He warned Israel against harming the protesters.

Hamas says the demonstration¹ will center on the difficulty faced by hundreds of thousands of Gazans. They say they belong to families forced to flee their homes in what is now Israel, during the war that led to its creation.

Hamas seized Gaza from the internationally supported Palestinian Authority in 2007. Conditions in the territory have worsened since then.

Israel and Egypt blocked land, sea and air paths around Gaza when Hamas took power. Gaza and Israel have also fought three wars in that time. And last year, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas placed restrictions⁴ on Gaza to pressure Hamas into surrendering control of the area.

All of these events have greatly damaged Gaza’s economy.

Unemployment is well over 40 percent, there is no public, drinkable water and electricity is on for only a few hours a day.

Egypt has tried to organize an agreement between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority. But, earlier this month, a bomb exploded near vehicles transporting Palestinian Authority officials into Gaza. The prime minister and security chief were among them but were not hurt.

The Palestinian Authority blamed Hamas for the attack. Hamas blamed Israel.

Mkhaimar Abusada is a political science professor at Gaza’s al-Azhar University. He said the Hamas leaders see themselves surrounded by opponents on three sides: Israel, Egypt and the Palestinian Authority. He said the protests are designed to move attention away from their problems at home while also troubling Israel without starting another war.

“They think busying Israel with this issue may put it under pressure,” he added.

Hamas’ popularity has greatly decreased over time. It is unclear whether the group will be able to gather the crowds it believes it can. Still, Gaze is a territory where there is little else for people to do with their free time. This, combined with social pressure could help bring in people.

The demonstrations will begin after the Muslim midday prayer on Friday. Buses will carry people from all over Gaza to the five camps, situated⁵ several hundred meters from the border fence.

Organizers say they are trying to make use of a Palestinian demand known as “right of return.” It demands that relatives of refugees who lost their homes in 1948 be able to regain⁶ their property.

Israel opposes any large return of refugees, saying it would destroy the country’s Jewish character.

Israeli Cabinet Minister Yoav Galant is a former general and member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s inner Security Cabinet. He said the military is well-prepared to prevent any border crossing.

“We will try to use the minimum force that is needed in order to avoid Palestinians wounded and casualties,” he said. “But the red line is very clear. They stay on the Gazan side and we stay in Israel.”

Violent incidents along the border have taken place every Friday since December 6. That is when President Donald Trump⁷ recognized disputed Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. He also announced plans to move the United States Embassy from Tel Aviv.

I’m Caty Weaver⁸.

And I’m Pete Musto.

Words in This Story

catastrophe – n. a terrible disaster

situated – adj. located in a particular place

character – n. a set of qualities that are shared by many people in a group or country

minimum – adj. least or lowest possible in amount or degree

casualties – n. people who are hurt or killed during an accident or war

1 demonstration   

n.表明，示范，论证，示威

参考例句：

• His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
• He gave a demonstration of the new technique then and there.他当场表演了这种新的操作方法。

2 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

3 catastrophe   

n.大灾难，大祸

参考例句：

• I owe it to you that I survived the catastrophe.亏得你我才大难不死。
• This is a catastrophe beyond human control.这是一场人类无法控制的灾难。

4 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

5 situated   

adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的

参考例句：

• The village is situated at the margin of a forest.村子位于森林的边缘。
• She is awkwardly situated.她的处境困难。

6 regain   

vt.重新获得，收复，恢复

参考例句：

• He is making a bid to regain his World No.1 ranking.他正为重登世界排名第一位而努力。
• The government is desperate to regain credibility with the public.政府急于重新获取公众的信任。

7 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。

8 weaver   

n.织布工；编织者

参考例句：

• She was a fast weaver and the cloth was very good.她织布织得很快，而且布的质量很好。
• The eager weaver did not notice my confusion.热心的纺织工人没有注意到我的狼狈相。