Thousands of Palestinians assembled on the streets of Gaza to express their discontent with the Hamas government on Sunday. The demonstrators voiced frustrations over the territory’s struggling economy, severe power outages, and high cost of living.

The protests, coordinated by a movement called “alvirus alsakher,” highlighted dire living conditions and high unemployment rates in Gaza and accused Hamas of neglecting people’s needs while prioritizing its own interests. The protesters also called for unity in the Palestinian government, calling for an end to the political split between the Hamas and Fatah parties.

The organizers intended for the protests to be peaceful. However, the police violently dispersed the gathering, making several arrests and destroying bystanders’ cell phones.

Despite the police response, the activists have declared their intention to restart protests on Friday.

Israel and Egypt have enforced a strict blockade on Gaza since 2008. The blockade has led to high unemployment rates and power shortages.