On Wednesday, witnesses reported that Palestinians voiced their discontent with Hamas during anti-war demonstrations in the Gaza Strip. This incident represented a rare instance of public dissent against the group, which the U.S. and Israel classify as a terrorist organization and has stifled opposition while governing the region for 17 months amidst the ongoing conflict with Israel.
Hundreds of people were seen protesting in the seriously damaged northern town of Beit Lahiya on Tuesday. Authentic-looking footage show the protesters carrying placards that said “Stop the war,” “We refuse to die,” and “The blood of our children is not cheap.”
On Wednesday, there were calls for additional protests, with at least one taking place in the severely affected Shijaiyah neighborhood of Gaza City, where a group of men chanted, “Out, out, out! Hamas get out!”
Ammar Hassan, who joined the protest on Tuesday, expressed frustration, saying, “We are tired of the bombing, killing, and displacement.” He noted that the demonstration began with just a few dozen participants but quickly grew to over 2,000, with attendees chanting against Hamas.
He explained over the phone, “This is the only group we can influence. While protests may not stop the Israeli violent attack, they can impact Hamas.”
In the past, Hamas security forces have responded violently to protests. However, this time, there seemed to be no disruption, probably because Hamas wants to stay under the radar after Israel’s recent military actions in Gaza.
Senior Hamas leader Bassem Naim used Facebook to stress that while everyone has the right to protest, their main target of outrage should be Israel, which he labeled as the “criminal aggressor.”
In a joint message, community leaders from Beit Lahiya showed their support for the protests against Israel’s recent military actions and the strict blockade that limits supplies to Gaza. They emphasized the community’s strong support for armed resistance against Israel.
“The protest was more than just a political statement; it was really about the importance of human life,” said Mohammed Abu Saker, a father of three from the nearby town of Beit Hanoun, who participated in the demonstration. “We aim to end the violence and displacement, no matter what it takes. While we can’t stop Israel from hurting us, we can urge Hamas to give concessions.
On Tuesday, witnesses reported a similar demonstration taking place in the heavily impacted region of Jabaliya. One protester, who chose to stay anonymous out of fear of retaliation, mentioned they participated because “everyone has let us down.”
They observed the crowd chanting against Israel, Hamas, the Western-supported Palestinian Authority, and Arab mediators. Interestingly, there were no Hamas security forces present at the protest, although there were clashes between supporters and opponents of the group. Later, the participant expressed regret about joining the protest, particularly since the Israeli media highlighted the dissent against Hamas.
A 19-year-old Palestinian, also speaking anonymously for safety, shared his intention to join protests on Wednesday. He revealed that his mother is battling cancer and his 10-year-old brother is in the hospital with cerebral palsy, and their family has been displaced several times since their home was destroyed.
“People are frustrated with the entire world,” he stated, criticizing the United States, Israel, and Hamas. “We want Hamas to address this crisis, bring back the hostages, and put an end to all of this.”
These protests emerged a week after Israel resumed military actions against Hamas following the conclusion of a ceasefire, resulting in hundreds of casualties. Earlier this month, Israel also stopped the delivery of food, fuel, medicine, and humanitarian aid to Gaza’s approximately 2 million Palestinians.
Israel has vowed to escalate the conflict until Hamas releases the 59 hostages it still holds, with 24 of them thought to be alive. Additionally, Israel demands that Hamas give up its authority, disarm, and send its leaders into exile. In turn, Hamas has declared that it will only release the remaining captives in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, a lasting ceasefire, and an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
The conflict began after Hamas launched an unprecedented terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths, primarily among civilians, and the kidnapping of 251 individuals. Israel’s retaliatory actions have reportedly caused over 50,000 fatalities, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not differentiate between civilians and combatants.
Israel’s airstrikes and ground operations have led to widespread devastation, displacing nearly 90% of Gaza’s population at their peak.
Hamas secured a major victory in the Palestinian elections of 2006. The following year, it seized control of Gaza from the Western-backed Palestinian Authority, led by the secular Fatah movement, after months of internal strife and a week of fierce street battles between the two groups.
Human rights groups claim that both the Palestinian Authority and Hamas have brutally repressed opposition, stiffled protests in their territories, and subjected their critics to imprisonment and torture.
