GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — As they shouted “I want to commit suicide, I want to set myself ablaze,” two young men set fire to themselves in central Gaza City June 6, in protest against the poor living conditions and economic hardship they face. They immediately drew the attention of passers-by who rushed to the scene to extinguish the fire.

In an incident on June 1, 2014, the same young men were severely beaten by citizens after they wore the uniform of electricity bill collectors and switched off the power to homes whose occupants they said had failed to settle their electricity bills.

The two incidents were part of sketches by comedians Momen Shwaikh from the Shajaiya refugee camp and Thaer Abu Zubaydah from Bureij camp filmed with a hidden camera for a TV show called “Tawel Balak” ("Take It Easy").

Over the last five years, thousands of Gazans have been watching the TV show, which is written and presented by Shwaikh and produced by Palestinian TV channel Alkitab. The show aims to address many of the issues and problems facing the Palestinian community in Gaza through satire.