Hundreds of Palestinians in northern Gaza staged a protest on Tuesday, directing anti-Hamas slogans and demanding an end to the ongoing conflict with Israel, according to eyewitness accounts.
The predominantly male demonstrators chanted “Hamas out!” and “Hamas terrorists” in Beit Lahia, a week after the Israeli army resumed intensive bombing in Gaza following a nearly two-month truce.
The protest, which followed social media appeals circulated on Telegram, saw residents express their growing frustration with the prolonged conflict.
“I don’t know who organised the protest,” said Mohammed, a demonstrator who declined to give his last name for fear of reprisals. “I took part to send a message on behalf of the people: Enough with the war,” he said, adding that he had seen “members of the Hamas security forces in civilian clothing breaking up the protest.”
Majdi, another protester who also withheld his full name, echoed the sentiment of weariness. “The people are tired,” he stated. “If Hamas leaving power in Gaza is the solution, why doesn’t Hamas give up power to protect the people?.”
As of Tuesday evening, further Telegram messages from unidentified sources called for renewed demonstrations across Gaza on Wednesday.
Israel has repeatedly called for Gazans to mobilize against Hamas, which has governed the territory since 2007. However, gauging public sentiment in Gaza remains challenging.
The most recent survey, conducted in September by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research (PCPSR), indicated that 35 percent of Gazans supported Hamas, while 26 percent supported its rival Fatah, led by Mahmoud Abbas.
Fatah’s spokesman in Gaza, Monther al-Hayek, urged Hamas on Saturday to “step aside from governing” to protect the “existence” of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
The Gaza Strip has endured over 17 months of war between Israel and Hamas, with the humanitarian situation deteriorating further after Israel blocked aid passage on March 2, seeking the release of Israeli hostages.
Since Israel resumed its military operations, the Hamas-run health ministry reports at least 792 Palestinian deaths. The conflict began with Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which resulted in 1,218 deaths, primarily civilians, according to AFP tallies.
Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed at least 50,021 Palestinians in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to the health ministry.
