Correspondence - #18 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Charge No. 3: Illegal Taxation by Hamas Hamas is charged with imposing illegal taxes on Palestinians within Gaza who are striving to earn a basic living to feed their families and children. Recently, Hanias raised the amount of taxes on the population in general, and on merchants in particular, which has further enraged the Palestinian people. The Palestinians malting an effort to relocate to a different location outside Gaza are restricted by Harnas patrols who prevent Palestinians from escaping in arbitrary, inhuman and illegal ways. A new Palestinian generation is resorting to suicidal thoughts. Those linked to Hamas through family ties or affiliation enjoy a luxurious lifestyle, whereas the ordinary Palestinian in Gaza suffers daily. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) estimates that "380l0 of young people in the Gaza Strip have considered suicide at least once. With mental health becoming endemic in Gaza." OCHA 1 ReliefWeb further reveal that: As a result, Gaza's young people are growing more desperate. They struggle to retain hope for a future free of violence and full of opportunities, Many have come to see suicide as a means of escape from their troubles. Through our work on the ground Islamic Relief sees the suffering of the families left behind as they struggle with the trauma that comes with losing a loved one to suicide. Suicide rates in Gaza have been trending upward for the last 10 years. Current average figures put the number at 562 attempts per year. The suicide rate is much higher among young rnen aged 18-30 who make up about 75% of all suicide deaths here, with young men shouldering the social expectation that they will provide for their family. Feeling without value and unable to seek help due to the stigma attached to mental health, young men are turning to suicide as a means of escape. (10) 21