KHAN YUNIS — At least 16 people were injured when hundreds of unemployed Palestinian men and teenagers clashed with security forces yesterday in the second day of violent protests in the Gaza Strip.

Hundreds ran amok in Khan Yunis in southern Gaza, denouncing the Palestinian Authority for failing to provide them with jobs and for introducing tuition fees at state schools.

Hundreds of teenagers and men hurled concrete, fire bombs and metal bars at riot police near the city’s municipal building and police station, as they set tyres on fire and ripped down an electricity transformer, a witness said.

At least 16 people were taken to hospital with injuries sustained in the fracas, including five policemen and 11 civilians hurt by stone throwers, said Palestinian security sources.

At least 200 helmeted riot police and national security officers battled to disperse the crowd, firing shots into the air before the protestors ran back chanting: “We’re fighting for our bread.”

On Sunday at least four demonstrators were wounded in clashes with police during the first day of protests.

Demonstrators, many of whom worked in Israel before the five-year Palestinian uprising began, said they were angry about plans to introduce tuition fees, of 40 shekels (about R60) a year for students at government schools.

The Palestinian economy has been devastated by the last five years of intifada violence with sealed borders causing unemployment to soar. Sapa-AFP