Hamas cancels public holiday on international women's day
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Hamas authorities in the Gaza Strip have canceled plans to give students a day off on Wednesday for international women's day.
The internationally backed Palestinian Authority in the West Bank has declared women's day a public holiday.
But the Islamic militant Hamas, which has controlled Gaza for the past decade, said Sunday it would not obey the order. It says Wednesday will be a normal work day and schools will be open, though the first hour of classes will include discussions about women's role in the Palestinian national struggle.
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Hamas gave no reason for its decision.
Under the group's rule, Gazan society has grown increasingly conservative, with Hamas imposing a dress code on female lawyers, principals harassing students who don't wear headscarves and occasionally banning women from smoking in cafes.