Anti-Hamas Protest Erupts In Gaza Amid Ongoing Conflict.
Hundreds of people have taken to the streets in northern Gaza in what is being described as the largest anti-Hamas protest since the war with Israel began. Demonstrators in Beit Lahia demanded that Hamas step down from power, chanting slogans such as “Out, out, out, Hamas out.”
Masked Hamas militants, some carrying guns and batons, moved swiftly to disperse the protest, assaulting several participants. Footage of the demonstration circulated widely on social media, highlighting growing public discontent.
Hamas has not directly addressed the protests but issued a statement on Wednesday blaming Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the resumption of the war. Meanwhile, pro-Hamas supporters dismissed the demonstration, accusing participants of being traitors.
Public Anger Over Conflict Escalation
The protests followed a recent escalation in hostilities. A day before the demonstration, Islamic Jihad militants launched rockets at Israel, prompting Israeli forces to order the evacuation of large parts of Beit Lahia. This decision angered local residents, many of whom have already been displaced multiple times.
Israel resumed its military campaign in Gaza after nearly two months of ceasefire, citing Hamas’s rejection of a US-backed proposal to extend the truce. Hamas, in turn, has accused Israel of abandoning an earlier deal agreed upon in January. The renewed violence has led to hundreds of Palestinian casualties and further displacement.
Growing Discontent Within Gaza
Expressions of frustration with Hamas have become increasingly visible both online and on the streets, despite fears of reprisals. Some residents have openly criticised the group’s leadership, questioning its strategy and calling for change.
One protester, Mohammed Diab, who lost his brother in an Israeli airstrike and saw his home destroyed, expressed his frustration:
“We refuse to die for anyone, for any party’s agenda or the interests of foreign states. Hamas must step down and listen to the voice of the grieving, the voice that rises from beneath the rubble – it is the most truthful voice.”
Another Gaza resident, Mohammed Al-Najjar, wrote on Facebook:
“Excuse me, but what exactly is Hamas betting on? They’re betting on our blood, blood that the whole world sees as just numbers. Even Hamas counts us as numbers. Step down and let us tend to our wounds.”
The Toll of the Conflict
The war in Gaza erupted following Hamas’s attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and the taking of 251 hostages. In response, Israel launched a military offensive aimed at dismantling Hamas, with the Hamas-run health ministry reporting more than 50,000 Palestinian deaths since then.
The ongoing war has left most of Gaza’s 2.1 million residents displaced, with many forced to relocate multiple times. An estimated 70% of the region’s buildings have been damaged or destroyed, while essential services, including healthcare, water, and sanitation, have collapsed. Severe shortages of food, fuel, and medicine continue to deepen the humanitarian crisis.
Despite the dangers of speaking out, the scale of the recent protest suggests that opposition to Hamas within Gaza is becoming increasingly vocal, as residents endure the devastating consequences of the war.
