GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip – Hamas has demonstrated its firm grip on Gaza on a day some had hoped would see protests against the Islamic militant group.
Monday was the anniversary of the death of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, founder of Hamas rival Fatah, and in the past an occasion for protests.
A Facebook campaign called "Rebellion," named after the Egyptian protesters that helped bring down Hamas ally President Mohammed Morsi, also urged Gazans to rise up.
In the end, there was no sign of protests.
Fatah said it did not organize a march because Hamas denied permission. In a sign of jitters, Hamas security briefly detained a dozen journalists who had asked students about the "Rebellion" campaign.
Hamas had seemed vulnerable because of an unprecedented border closure by neighboring Egypt after Morsi's fall.