Hundreds of people marched through Beit Lahia, chanting slogans against Hamas. AFP
Hundreds of people in Gaza held a major protest against Hamas, demanding the group step down from power. This was the largest demonstration of its kind since the war with Israel began. Protesters filled the streets of Beit Lahia in northern Gaza, chanting, "Out, out, out, Hamas out."
Hamas militants, some masked and carrying guns or batons, quickly moved in and forcefully dispersed the crowd. They assaulted several protesters to break up the demonstration.
Videos circulating on social media showed young men marching through the streets, calling for Hamas to leave. Pro-Hamas supporters, however, dismissed the protests, calling the demonstrators traitors. Hamas has not issued any official statement on the incident.
The protest came just a day after Islamic Jihad gunmen fired rockets at Israel. In response, Israel ordered the evacuation of large parts of Beit Lahia. This decision sparked public outrage, adding fuel to the already growing discontent in the area.
The renewed fighting followed nearly two months of ceasefire. Israel blamed Hamas for rejecting a new US-backed proposal to extend the truce. Hamas, on the other hand, accused Israel of abandoning the original agreement made in January. Since the ceasefire ended on March 18, Israeli airstrikes have killed hundreds of Palestinians and displaced thousands more.
One protester, Mohammed Diab, lost his brother in an Israeli airstrike a year ago and saw his home destroyed during the war. "We refuse to die for anyone's agenda or the interests of foreign states," he said. "Hamas must step down and listen to the voice of the grieving, the voice that rises from beneath the rubble."
Footage also showed protesters shouting slogans against Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood, demanding an end to their rule. Hamas has controlled Gaza since 2007 after winning elections the previous year and forcefully ousting its rivals.
Criticism of Hamas has been growing in Gaza since the war began. Many have voiced their frustrations both in the streets and online, though Hamas still has loyal supporters. The actual shift in public sentiment is hard to measure due to fear of reprisal.
Despite the ongoing war, frustration with Hamas had been simmering long before the conflict. 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 current war was triggered by Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians. Hamas also took 251 hostages. In response, Israel launched a military offensive to destroy Hamas. According to the Hamas-run health ministry, over 50,000 Palestinians have been killed since then. The fighting has displaced most of Gaza's 2.1 million people, many of them multiple times.
The conflict has left Gaza in ruins, with an estimated 70% of buildings damaged or destroyed. Healthcare, water, and sanitation systems have collapsed, and severe shortages of food, fuel, and medicine persist.
