GAZA CITY, 20 August 2006 — Hundreds of Palestinian security officials stormed banks and burned tires yesterday, demanding the banks return money deducted from a meager cash advance they received after months of going without wages.

About 80 security officers, many of them armed with assault rifles, stormed up the stairs of the Arab Bank in Gaza City, parking themselves in front of the manager’s office and refusing to leave until they spoke to him.

Suffering the impact of crippling international sanctions, the ruling Hamas party has been unable to pay 165,000 government workers since taking office in March.

Israel, the United States and other Western countries have said they will not lift the sanctions until the Hamas group recognizes Israel and renounces violence, something it has so far refused to do.

Since March, employees have received only partial salaries in drips and drabs, forcing them to take bank loans and buy food on credit. Yesterday, the workers discovered the banks had deducted some of the advance to cover the loans.

“I have five children,” shouted Mohammad Masri, a policeman furious that he had received only 500 shekels ($114) of the 1,500 shekels ($343) he was supposed to receive. “I want to speak to the manager. If he doesn’t come out, we won’t leave the bank. We’ll protest here.”

Tensions are especially high because the school year is set to start on Sept. 2, but the teachers union has already threatened not to open the schools until they are paid for work they did in the last school year.

Another policeman, who would only identify himself as Abu Moussa was shocked to find that instead of receiving 1,400 shekels ($320), he had been paid just 800 shekels ($180).

“My grocer said I can’t take any more on credit until I pay him,” he wailed. “I have 10 children ...Who do I pay? The grocer? Or do I buy shoes for my children? How will they go to school?”

Palestinian Journalists Protest Kidnapping of Fox Newsmen

Palestinian journalists in Gaza protested yesterday against the kidnapping of a Fox News correspondent and cameraman, as concern about the men’s safety grew.

Cameraman Olaf Wiig, 36, of New Zealand, and American correspondent Steve Centanni, 60, were snatched Monday from their TV van near the Palestinian security services headquarters in Gaza City.

About 30 members of the Palestinian Journalists’ Union gathered outside the parliamentary building in Gaza, holding up signs demanding the men be freed.