Anti-war protests erupted in northern Gaza on Tuesday. Beginning with a few dozen people, the demonstrations swelled to thousands. Protesters call for an end to 17 months of deadly fighting with Israel, as life in Gaza has become unbearable. Many Palestinians are chanting against Hamas, the Islamist group that governs Palestinians in Gaza. It’s a rare display of public anger against the militant group.
Hamas has crushed dissent since taking control of Gaza in 2007. It had brutal responses for Palestinians who protested living conditions prior to its 2023 attack on Israel. No crackdown is apparent this time. Hamas may be keeping a lower profile since Israel resumed war.
The protests erupted a week after Israel ended its ceasefire with Hamas. On March 18, Israel launched a surprise wave of strikes that killed hundreds of people. It halted deliveries of food, fuel, medicine, and humanitarian aid to Gaza’s roughly two million Palestinians earlier this month.
Gaza is currently in shambles. Estimates say that 70% of buildings have been damaged or destroyed. Healthcare, water, and sanitation systems have largely collapsed. Thousands of men, women, and children have died.
A protest in the town of Beit Lahiya on Tuesday included many chanting, “The people want the fall of Hamas.” In one hard-hit neighborhood, dozens of men shouted, “Out, out, out! Hamas get out!”
“Our children have been killed. Our houses have been destroyed,” says Abed Radwan. He joined the protest in Beit Lahiya “against the war, against Hamas, and the (Palestinian political) factions, against Israel, and against the world’s silence.”
Senior Hamas official Bassem Naim responded on social media. He said that people had the right to protest. But he argued that their focus should be on Israel, which he calls the “criminal aggressor.”
Elders from Beit Lahiya noted that the community still fully supports armed resistance against Israel.
“The protest was not about politics. It was about people’s lives,” says Mohammed Abu Saker. He is a father of three from the nearby town of Beit Hanoun. He joined a demonstration Tuesday.
“We want to stop the killing and displacement, no matter the price. We can’t stop Israel from killing us, but we can press Hamas to give concessions,” he says.
Many protesters in Jabaliya chanted against both Israel and Hamas. Some later said they regretted participating because of Israeli media coverage. It emphasized only opposition to Hamas.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz urged Palestinians to join the protests. “You too should demand the removal of Hamas from Gaza and the immediate release of all Israeli hostages. That is the only way to stop the war,” he says.
One 19-year-old Palestinian protester says his family members have been displaced multiple times since their home was destroyed.
“People are angry at the whole world,” including the United States, Israel, and Hamas, he says. “We want Hamas to resolve this situation, return the hostages, and end this whole thing.”
Israel has vowed to escalate the war until Hamas returns the 59 hostages it still holds. Twenty-four are believed to be alive. Israel is also demanding that the group give up power, disarm, and send its leaders into exile.
Hamas says it will release the remaining captives only in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, a lasting ceasefire, and an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
Pray God will deal with evil and grant peace in Gaza. Pray that leaders will have wisdom to know how to prevent further bloodshed.
