Security Forces Disperse a Protest, Assault Protestors, and Arrest 13 People

At approximately 4:00 pm on Saturday, 14 January 2017, Palestinian police dispersed a protest organized by a group of people against the electricity crisis in the Gaza Strip.

According to Al Mezan’s field investigations, tens of persons gathered and were holding banners calling the Electricity Distribution Company to care about peoples’ worries and to increase the number of hours of electricity per day. The protest took place near the Trans crossroads in Jabaliya, northern Gaza district. The police arrived at the place and assaulted protesters and arrested 13 people. Al Mezan identified the names of four of the detained protestors as follows:

• Ghassan Khaled Al Frani, 22;
• Ziad Al Bozom, 24;
• Hatem Al Ajrami, 27;  and
• A’ed Talal Awad, 22.

The police released them on the next day on Sunday, 15 January 2017.