Rare Protests Erupt in Gaza as Palestinians Voice Dissent Against Hamas
Public demonstrations reflect widespread anger at ongoing violence and humanitarian crisis amid the Israel-Hamas conflict.
CAIRO: Thousands of Palestinians demonstrated in northern Gaza on Wednesday, marking the second day of protests against the ongoing conflict and expressing a rare public display of dissent toward Hamas, the militant group that controls the territory.
The demonstrations primarily took place in areas heavily affected by the violence, highlighting the intense frustrations of a population enduring severe hardships due to the prolonged hostilities with Israel.
In the town of Beit Lahiya, approximately 3,000 protesters gathered, chanting slogans such as "the people want the fall of Hamas." Similar sentiments echoed across the Shijaiyah neighborhood of Gaza City, where participants shouted, "Out, out, out! Hamas get out!" These protests appear to be fundamentally driven by calls for an end to the 17 months of escalating conflict with Israel, which has rendered life in Gaza increasingly unbearable for its residents.
Abed Radwan, a participant in the Beit Lahiya protest, articulated the collective grievances, stating, "Our children have been killed.
Our houses have been destroyed." Ammar Hassan, who joined the previous day's protests, noted that what began as a small gathering quickly grew to over 2,000 individuals, many of whom directed their frustrations toward Hamas, asserting that while protests may not halt the Israeli occupation, they could influence Hamas's actions.
Historically, Hamas has suppressed dissent, often responding violently to public opposition.
However, during this wave of protests, there has been no overt intervention from Hamas forces, possibly reflecting a strategic decision to maintain a lower profile amid renewed military engagement with Israel.
Bassem Naim, a senior member of Hamas, acknowledged the right to protest but emphasized the need to unify against the “criminal aggressor,” referring to Israel.
The protests have arisen as a significant counter-narrative to the prevailing conditions in Gaza, where many citizens have borne the brunt of Israel’s ongoing military operations, including an escalation of bombardments that resumed after the cessation of a temporary ceasefire.
Witnesses reported that protests also occurred in Jabaliya, where demonstrators expressed sentiments of collective failure among all parties – including Hamas, the Palestinian Authority, and external mediators.
The recent Israeli military actions, which resulted in hundreds of casualties on both sides, were initiated following Hamas's surprise attack on October 7, 2023, in which approximately 1,200 Israelis were killed, primarily civilians.
Israel's retaliatory campaign has been extensive, resulting in significant loss of life in Gaza, with over 50,000 fatalities reported by the Gaza Health Ministry thus far.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire, with Israel halting all supplies — including food, medicine, and humanitarian aid — to the region’s 2 million residents earlier this month.
Israeli officials have articulated a clear stance, demanding the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas and insisting on the disarmament and displacement of Hamas leadership as prerequisites to any ceasefire.
As the conflict continues, the atmosphere in Gaza is marked by a collective sense of despair, intertwined with rising dissent toward Hamas, as many young Palestinians articulate their frustrations both with local governance and the international community’s response to their plight.
The demonstrations primarily took place in areas heavily affected by the violence, highlighting the intense frustrations of a population enduring severe hardships due to the prolonged hostilities with Israel.
In the town of Beit Lahiya, approximately 3,000 protesters gathered, chanting slogans such as "the people want the fall of Hamas." Similar sentiments echoed across the Shijaiyah neighborhood of Gaza City, where participants shouted, "Out, out, out! Hamas get out!" These protests appear to be fundamentally driven by calls for an end to the 17 months of escalating conflict with Israel, which has rendered life in Gaza increasingly unbearable for its residents.
Abed Radwan, a participant in the Beit Lahiya protest, articulated the collective grievances, stating, "Our children have been killed.
Our houses have been destroyed." Ammar Hassan, who joined the previous day's protests, noted that what began as a small gathering quickly grew to over 2,000 individuals, many of whom directed their frustrations toward Hamas, asserting that while protests may not halt the Israeli occupation, they could influence Hamas's actions.
Historically, Hamas has suppressed dissent, often responding violently to public opposition.
However, during this wave of protests, there has been no overt intervention from Hamas forces, possibly reflecting a strategic decision to maintain a lower profile amid renewed military engagement with Israel.
Bassem Naim, a senior member of Hamas, acknowledged the right to protest but emphasized the need to unify against the “criminal aggressor,” referring to Israel.
The protests have arisen as a significant counter-narrative to the prevailing conditions in Gaza, where many citizens have borne the brunt of Israel’s ongoing military operations, including an escalation of bombardments that resumed after the cessation of a temporary ceasefire.
Witnesses reported that protests also occurred in Jabaliya, where demonstrators expressed sentiments of collective failure among all parties – including Hamas, the Palestinian Authority, and external mediators.
The recent Israeli military actions, which resulted in hundreds of casualties on both sides, were initiated following Hamas's surprise attack on October 7, 2023, in which approximately 1,200 Israelis were killed, primarily civilians.
Israel's retaliatory campaign has been extensive, resulting in significant loss of life in Gaza, with over 50,000 fatalities reported by the Gaza Health Ministry thus far.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire, with Israel halting all supplies — including food, medicine, and humanitarian aid — to the region’s 2 million residents earlier this month.
Israeli officials have articulated a clear stance, demanding the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas and insisting on the disarmament and displacement of Hamas leadership as prerequisites to any ceasefire.
As the conflict continues, the atmosphere in Gaza is marked by a collective sense of despair, intertwined with rising dissent toward Hamas, as many young Palestinians articulate their frustrations both with local governance and the international community’s response to their plight.
