Palestinians protested in Gaza on Tuesday at a rare show of opposition to Hamas. After more than a year of devastating war with Israel, there were slogans of critical advocates for the grip of armed groups against the territory.
A video examined by the New York Times showed a group of Gazan on a street that spans half of the town north of Beitrakya. Some carried more neutral signs of opposition to the continued war, while others chanted the slogan for Hamas to come out.
At least publicly, Gazan tends to condemn Israel for most of the death, destruction and hunger that war has brought about. However, Hamas, who launched a conflict by leading an attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, lured 251 people to Gaza, and instead of giving up their power in exchange for a ceasefire, Hamas is also responsible for Hamas, who continues to fight.
The outrage appeared to have resurfaced after Israel abandoned its two-month ceasefire last week and Hamas resumed its bombing of Gaza to pressure it to release more of the remaining hostages.
“The bloodshed has stopped and Hamas wants to continue until he leaves the Palestinian scene,” said Ahmed al-Masri, a 35-year-old construction worker, who attended the rally.
Another Gazan, 32-year-old Ibrahim, who joined the protest, said he had arrived in downtown Beit Rahiya to buy food before stumbling over by the protesters' crowd. He asked to be identified by his name, fearing retaliation by Hamas.
He said the protesters' messages to Hamas ended the war and left Gaza.
Since seizing full control of Gaza in 2007, Hamas has cracked down on dissent by detaining critics and actively dispersing demonstrations against its policies. A 2018 Human Rights Watch report accused groups of routinely arresting and torture their enemies.
Although at least some Gazans have quietly expressed their frustration over their criticism of Hamas and its leaders since the start of the war, they have little intention of expressing them publicly.
Last year, Amin Abedo was one of Hamas' few well-known critics remaining inside Gaza, saying he was ambushed by the group's feared internal security forces. The masked officers beat him with a hammer and a metal bar, he said.
A Hamas government spokesman in Gaza suggested that Abed and another opposition were victims of criminal acts, adding that Hamas-run Home Ministry is investigating the episode.
Hamas is believed to order thousands of armed fighters despite Israel's efforts to remove extremist groups. During a two-month ceasefire with Israel that began in January, the group tried to reaffirm its control over the enclave.
Some Gazaans fear that they are afraid of an armistice that will take control of Hamas over Gaza.
“With Hamas not leaving, the next war is only a matter of time,” said Heral Warshaga, 27, a Beit Rahiya activist who fled Gaza by October 7, 2023.
“We had enough wars, destruction, murder,” he added.
Adam Lasgon I contributed a report from Jerusalem.
