In February, the call and hashtag "We Want to Live" started gaining traction online, specifically among several unaffiliated media activists. Protesters carried signs with statements such as: "We want to live the same life of luxury, money and cars as Hamas' leaders' sons." The We Want to Live Facebook page called for a general strike on 20–21 March. On 21 March, a local human rights watchdog reported that over 1,000 people had been arrested in connection with the protests, some of whom had been arrested in the middle of the night at their homes. It was also reported that family members of protesters, including children, were beaten and arrested. The Journalists Syndicate reported that Hamas security forces had beaten journalists and confiscated their cellphones and equipment. Around 45 journalists in total were arrested. Arrestees included director of the
Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation Rafat al-Qudra and
Independent Commission for Human Rights director Jamil Sarhan; the latter was hospitalized. Protesters who had been released additionally reported being beaten and tortured during detainment. == Responses ==