On Monday, Hamas security forces intervened when students protested a raise in tuition at the Al-Azhar University in the Gaza Strip. At least five Palestinian students were beaten and injured by the Hamas police during the demonstration, The Times of Israel reported Monday.

The students were opposing the university administration’s decision to prevent them from taking examinations because of their failure to pay tuition. The students asked the university to consider allowing them to pay their tuition in installments, but that was rejected.

The university mobilized the police after the students staged a sit-in protest. The Palestinian Students’ Union in the Gaza Strip slammed the use of force during the protest. The union said that the Hamas security forces prevented ambulances from entering the campus to assist wounded students.

This was the second incident in recent days. Last Saturday, Hamas police broke up another student-led protest that was organized by Fatah supporters. The administration faulted the students for damaging property, including smashing windows.

According to sources, Hamas claimed that the protest is being initiated by students who are allied with Fatah.

Tensions are running particularly high between Fatah and Hamas. Recently, the two failed to implement a reconciliation agreement arrived at last year, which would have had the PA take control of the Gaza Strip.

Earlier this month, PA Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah visited Gaza to inaugurate a new sewage plant when his convoy was struck by a roadside explosion. The PA accused Hamas of being behind the assassination attempt.

After these events, Abbas imposed new sanctions on Gaza.

[Photo: شبكة قدس الإخبارية / Twitter ]