GAZA/RAMALLAH, June 13 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian Authority banned on Wednesday protests and rallies in support of the Gaza Strip in the West Bank, official Palestinian news agency WAFA reported.
The ban was issued in a presidential circular signed by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' adviser for governorates' affairs, saying "providing permission for holding marches and gatherings that disturb Muslims' daily life is banned."
Over the past two days, Palestinian activists have been staging demonstrations in Ramallah against the almost one-year sanctions the Palestinian Authority has been imposing on Hamas-controlled Gaza to show support for the employees in the coastal enclave.
Three months ago, the Palestinian Authority reduced the salaries of its 58,000 civil and security servants in Gaza.
The Gaza Strip, which has been under an Israeli blockade for 11 years, is suffering from high rates of poverty and unemployment, since 80 percent of the population depend on humanitarian aid.
Hazem Qassem, Hamas spokesman in Gaza, said in an e-mailed press statement that the decision by the Palestinian Authority to ban demonstrations in support of the Gaza Strip in the West Bank "is a violation of the Palestinian law and a clear policy of repression."
"The decision by the Palestinian Authority to ban protests in the West Bank unveils its wish to shut up the voices rejecting the collective punishment against Gaza people," said Qassem.
