Editing Hamas (section)

==== Civilian crisis management ====

During the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Palestine]] Gaza's [[Ministry of Interior (State of Palestine)|Ministry of the Interior]] formed a crisis management team, headed by Hamas police officer [[Faiq Al-Mabhouh]].<ref name="SA - prominent leaders" >{{cite news| url= https://ara.tv/b2xtn | title = Since 7 October: these are the most prominent Hamas leaders who have been assassinated by Israel | date= 19 March 2024 | work= www.alarabiya.net | language=ar }}</ref><ref name="Lockdown option" >{{cite news | title= Al-Mahouh: "Lockdown" is an option among procedures evaluated by the competent authorities according to the epidemic situation | url= https://felesteen.news/post/79065/ | work= Palestine Online | date= 5 December 2020 }}</ref><ref name="sama" >{{cite news| title = He sent a message to citizens: Head of the Crisis Management Team in Gaza: We will conduct an evaluation of all the measures taken by this date | url = https://samanews.ps/ar/post/448555/%D9%88%D8%AC%D9%87-%D8%B1%D8%B3%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A9-%D9%84%D9%84%D9%85%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%B7%D9%86%D9%8A%D9%86-%D8%B1%D8%A6%D9%8A%D8%B3-%D8%AE%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%A5%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D8%B2%D9%85%D8%A9-%D8%A8%D8%BA%D8%B2%D8%A9-%D8%B3%D9%86%D8%AC%D8%B1%D9%8A-%D8%AA%D9%82%D9%8A%D9%8A%D9%85%D8%A7-%D9%84%D9%83%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D8%AC%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%A1%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%AA%D8%AE%D8%B0%D8%A9-%D8%A8%D9%87%D8%B0%D8%A7-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%88%D8%B9%D8%AF | work= Sama News | date= 30 December 2020 }}</ref> Mabhouh played a prominent role in communicating with the public about the changing situation. He appeared in video announcements on [[Al-Aqsa TV]] and social media channels, and gave interviews to local media to explain changes in restrictions. The Gaza Strip restrictions took the "[[flattening the curve]]" approach.<ref name="sama"/> The restrictions imposed were similar to most western countries, and more relaxed than the [[zero COVID]] policy implemented by [[COVID-19 pandemic in China|China]] and [[World Health Organization#Regional offices|their neighbors]].<ref name="Lockdown option" /> The Gaza Strip's starter was to avoid total [[lockdowns]] using partial measures like weekend lockdowns and curfews. The weekend lockdowns included mosques being closed for Friday prayers. But during times while the mosques were open, one creative measure initiated by [[Gaza's Ministry of Health]] was to replace the mosque preachers with doctors who gave health information seminars.<ref name="mosque medics" >{{cite web | url= http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-03/21/c_138900288.htm | title= Roundup: Gaza replaces mosque preachers with doctors for sermon amid COVID-19 - Xinhua - English.news.cn | date= 21 March 2020 | access-date= 22 May 2024 }}</ref><ref name="Lockdown option" /><ref name="sama"/>