CBNNews.com - GAZA STRIP - A Gaza farm family spoke out about the abuse they have suffered at the hands of Hamas, the ruling Palestinian faction in the Gaza Strip.

Hamas commandeered their farm, the family said in an article in the Palestinian Authority's daily, al-Hayat al-Jadida.

The Palestinian Media Watch (PMW), which translates and posts articles from the Arab press, reported the story earlier this week.

"The Abd Rabbo family kept quiet while Hamas fighters turned their farm in the Gaza Strip into a fortress," PMW wrote.

"Right now they are waiting for the aid promised by the [Hamas] movement after Israel bombed their farm and turned it into ruins."

The farm, situated on a hill overlooking the southern Israeli city of Sderot, made it ideal for rocket and mortar shell attacks.

Hamas turned the farm into a military fortress, the family said, firing rockets, digging tunnels and storing arms and explosives on the property.

Anyone who objected was summarily shot in the legs, they told the newspaper.

The farmers said they were unable to stop the Hamas militiamen, who often arrived at the property after dark.

Sources: The Jerusalem Post, Palestinian Media Watch