Dozens of street vendors protested in front of the parliament building Thursday morning after Hamas security forces cleared 200 stands from Gaza's main downtown square.

Zaki Sheik, a spokesman for Hamas' Executive Force, said the sweep was to remove all obstacles and obstructions that cause traffic jams. The city offered the displaced vendors two alternative locations nearby, he said.

About 150 vendors joined Thursday's protest, saying business will not be as good in the new locations. Said Abu Jazar, 29, who sold mobile phone accessories in the square to support his parents, his two unemployed brothers and his three children, said he did not oppose efforts to better organize street businesses.

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"But this way we are going to lose business because no one is going to walk to the place they want us to go," Abu Jazar said.

"The new locations are a half kilometer (quarter mile) away and can be ready in two days," Sheik said.

"The sweep has already improved traffic. A half-kilometer bus trip across the square that used to take a half hour now takes three minutes."

Hamas has pledged to bring law and order to the chaotic Gaza Strip since seizing control of the area last month during five days of fighting against the rival Fatah movement.