Hamas aims for big turnout in next week's Gaza marches

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip – A Hamas official says the terror group hopes to mobilize a large turnout for next week's Gaza border protests, the highlight of a campaign to break a decade-old blockade of the territory.

Ghazi Hamad said Tuesday that "there are many tools" to encourage participation, including making phone calls and offering more bus shuttles.

Hamad says protests will continue "as a long-term strategy," saying it is "less expensive" than going into a military confrontation with Israel.