In recent months the Hamas-led government in Gaza has seen heavy criticism for imposing practices and policies of "Islamization." Human rights organizations have reported that young men have been forcefully detained and had their heads shaved or their low-rise skinny jeans cut off on the basis of their appearance being too "Western." Other reports abound of men and women being stopped in the streets and asked to present papers documenting that they are in a formal relationship.
According to human rights activist Mustafa Ibrahim, who spoke to Al-Monitor in Gaza, people are currently feeling more watched and limited in their personal freedom. This observation was echoed by Heba Zayyan from UN Women, who said that the main issue was the lack of clarity regarding Hamas' policies.