Hundreds of people took to the streets of Beit Lahia, northern Gaza, in a large-scale protest against the Hamas government.
This demonstration is the most significant since Hamas launched its attack on Israel in October 2023.
Protesters called for Hamas to step down from governing the region. However, armed Hamas militants, some wearing masks and wielding batons, dispersed the demonstrators. Videos shared on social media by activists opposing Hamas showed young men marching through Beit Lahia, chanting for Hamas to leave.
While Hamas supporters dismissed the protest as insignificant and accused demonstrators of betrayal, the group itself has not issued a statement.
The protest followed Hamas’ recent rocket attacks on Israel, which led to renewed Israeli airstrikes on Gaza. Israel resumed its offensive on March 18, blaming Hamas for rejecting a ceasefire extension proposed by the U.S. Hamas, in turn, accused Israel of violating an earlier agreement from January.
BBC reports that since the resumption of hostilities, hundreds of Palestinians have been killed.
One protester, Mohammed Diab, who lost his home and brother in Israeli airstrikes a year ago, expressed frustration:
“We don’t want to keep dying for a political faction or the interests of foreign countries. Hamas must step down and listen to the voices of grieving people trapped under the rubble—this is the loudest voice.”
Hamas has ruled Gaza since 2007 after winning the 2006 elections and overthrowing its rivals. Public discontent with Hamas has grown significantly since the outbreak of the war.
Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 Israelis, mostly civilians, and the abduction of 251 people.
Israel retaliated with extensive air and ground assaults on Gaza, which the Hamas-controlled health ministry claims have killed over 50,000 Palestinians.
The conflict has displaced an estimated 2.1 million Gazans, with around 70% of the enclave’s infrastructure destroyed. Gaza now faces severe shortages of medical supplies, food, clean water, and shelter.
