Recently, hundreds of Palestinians took to the streets in northern Gaza, demonstrating against the ongoing war and vocally demanding an end to Hamas’s control. As social media posts captured the moment, protesters were heard chanting, “Hamas out.” This remarkable display of dissent comes after the militant group’s October 7, 2023, raid on Israel, which ignited the current conflict.
Northern Gaza has suffered immensely, with much of its infrastructure reduced to debris. This densely populated region has seen countless residents displaced multiple times in an effort to escape the violence. The devastation is palpable, as entire communities find themselves homeless, sheltered in tents or in buildings left uninhabitable.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu quickly remarked on the protests, interpreting them as evidence that Israel’s renewed offensive strategy is yielding results. Following a temporary ceasefire, Hamas’s police presence, which had temporarily surfaced, has once again vanished, indicating a return to a state of unrest. As protesters filled the streets, one could hear the chants echoing, “Out, out, out, Hamas get out,” a striking call for change in the Beit Lahiya region.
A local observer noted, “Many chanted slogans against Hamas. People are exhausted, and no one should blame them.” This collective weariness resonates deeply amidst the ongoing turmoil. The spirited protests, which have begun to circulate widely on social media, have drawn attention beyond the borders of Gaza, suggesting a potential shift in sentiment among the populace.
Interestingly, a video shared online depicted a sizable protest in Shejaia, a suburb of Gaza City, where demonstrators expressed their desire for Hamas’s dismissal. While these claims are difficult to verify, they raise questions about the growing discontent with Hamas’s governance during this time of hardship.
Amid these tensions, senior Hamas official Basem Naim acknowledged the right to protest but expressed concern regarding what he termed “suspicious political agendas” that might be leveraging the situation for their own interests. He questioned the source and intent of these protests, juxtaposing them with the ongoing conflict in the West Bank: “Where are they from? What is happening there? Why don’t they protest against the aggression?”
The rallying voices reflect not only a growing frustration with Hamas but also signify underlying fractures within Palestinian political dynamics. The Fatah movement, led by the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, has called on Hamas to heed the calls of the Palestinian populace in Gaza.
As the conflict escalates, the humanitarian situation becomes increasingly dire, with the United Nations reporting the displacement of approximately 142,000 people in just one week. The spokesman for U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres highlighted this crisis, stating that nearly 90% of Gaza’s population has faced displacement since the war began.
As residents who had earlier fled to southern Gaza return to their homes in the north, they encounter devastation instead of safety, exacerbated by new evacuation orders from Israel. “All of Gaza is in ruins; now the occupation has ordered us to leave the north again. Where can we go?” lamented one protestor.
The toll from renewed Israeli military operations is staggering. The Palestinian health ministry reports nearly 700 fatalities, primarily among women and children, since the resumption of strikes on March 18. With reduced Hamas police presence in various regions, the implications of public dissent are becoming a focal point of discussion, as analyst Akram Attallah observed: “The people are exhausted and have paid with their lives and property.”
Hamas has ruled Gaza since taking power in 2007, leaving little room for opposition. The ongoing tension with Fatah and the Palestinian Authority continues to complicate the governance landscape, with Fatah recently urging Hamas to step aside for the sake of the Palestinian people.
As the situation intensifies, Netanyahu’s threats to seize parts of Gaza if hostages are not released add another layer of complexity, with Hamas reiterating that such actions could endanger lives. The cycle of conflict appears to spiral on as rockets are fired from Gaza, further escalating tensions.
In the midst of this turbulent atmosphere, it’s evident that the plight of ordinary Palestinians grows more dire by the day. As residents gather for what is being described as the largest anti-Hamas rally since the inception of the war, one protestor succinctly summarized the sentiment: “The people are tired. If Hamas leaving power in Gaza is the solution, why doesn’t Hamas give up power to protect the people?”
With the yearning for peace and stability amid extensive suffering, voices of dissent grow stronger—the question remains, will they result in meaningful change for the people of Gaza?
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International–Monitoring.
