GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — On Feb. 2, concerns seemed evident on the faces of governmental employees in the Gaza Strip, as they lined up in a long line in front of the Hamas-affiliated National Islamic Bank. They were waiting to receive their salaries, which had been reduced by 50% for the third month in a row.
The government pays its employees between 1,000 Israeli shekels ($285) and 4,000 Israeli shekels ($1,140) a month, as announced by Gaza government Deputy Prime Minister Ziad al-Zaza in a statement on Jan. 29 to the governmental news agency Al-Ray.