Hundreds join Gaza's largest anti-Hamas protest since war began

Recently, a significant protest took place in Gaza, marking the largest anti-Hamas demonstration since the onset of the ongoing conflict with Israel. Hundreds of individuals gathered in Beit Lahia, a town in northern Gaza, to voice their discontent with Hamas, the governing body in the region. The protesters chanted slogans demanding that Hamas relinquish its power. However, the demonstration was met with resistance from masked Hamas militants, some of whom were armed. These militants intervened and forcefully dispersed the crowd, resulting in several protesters being assaulted. Activists critical of Hamas shared videos on social media, showcasing young men marching through the streets of Beit Lahia, chanting 'out, out, out, Hamas out'. In response to the protest, Hamas did not issue a direct comment but instead blamed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for reigniting the conflict. Supporters of Hamas attempted to downplay the significance of the protests, labeling the participants as traitors. The protests in northern Gaza occurred shortly after gunmen from the Islamic Jihad group launched rockets at Israel, prompting the Israeli government to evacuate large portions of Beit Lahia, which fueled public anger in the area. Following nearly two months of ceasefire, Israel resumed its military operations in Gaza, attributing the renewed conflict to Hamas's rejection of a new proposal from the United States aimed at extending the truce. Conversely, Hamas accused Israel of abandoning the original agreement made in January. Since the resumption of military actions, hundreds of Palestinians have lost their lives, and thousands have been displaced due to airstrikes that began on March 18. One protester, Mohammed Diab, a resident of Beit Lahia, shared his personal tragedy, stating that he lost his home and his brother in an Israeli airstrike a year ago. He expressed his frustration, saying, 'We refuse to die for anyone, for any party's agenda or the interests of foreign states. ' Diab emphasized that Hamas must listen to the voices of those who are grieving, as their pain is the most genuine. Footage from the protest also captured demonstrators shouting 'down with Hamas rule, down with the Muslim Brotherhood rule'. Since 2007, Hamas has been the sole governing authority in Gaza, having won elections and subsequently ousted its rivals through violence. Open criticism of Hamas has been on the rise in Gaza since the war began, both in public demonstrations and online platforms. However, there remains a segment of the population that remains fiercely loyal to the group, making it challenging to accurately assess the shift in public support. The protest on Tuesday was the largest anti-Hamas demonstration since the conflict escalated following the attacks on October 7. Opposition to Hamas existed prior to the war, but much of it was concealed due to fear of retaliation. Mohammed Al-Najjar, a resident of Gaza, expressed his frustration on Facebook, stating, 'Excuse me, but what exactly is Hamas betting on? They're betting on our blood, blood that the whole world sees as just numbers. ' He urged Hamas to step down and allow the people to heal from their wounds. The conflict in Gaza was ignited by Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 individuals, primarily civilians, and the abduction of 251 others. In retaliation, Israel launched a military offensive in Gaza aimed at dismantling Hamas. According to the Hamas-run health ministry, the situation has deteriorated significantly, with most of Gaza's 2. 1 million residents displaced multiple times. An estimated 70% of buildings in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed, leading to a collapse of healthcare, water, and sanitation systems, alongside severe shortages of food, fuel, medicine, and shelter.