By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Reporter
HUNDREDS OF Palestinians took to the streets of northern Gaza on Tuesday in the largest anti-Hamas demonstration since the war with Israel began, calling for an end to the ongoing conflict and demanding that the militant group step down from power.
Footage verified by multiple news agencies showed crowds marching through Beit Lahia, chanting, “Hamas out,” and “We refuse to die,” as tensions in the Hamas-controlled enclave reached new heights.
The protest, which erupted as Israeli airstrikes and ground operations continued, was forcibly dispersed by masked Hamas militants armed with guns and batons.
Witnesses reported that several protesters were assaulted as Hamas security forces cracked down on the rally.
The rare display of dissent reflects growing frustration among Gaza’s 2.1 million residents, who have endured 17 months of devastating conflict.
“We don’t want destruction; we don’t want war; we want to live,” one protester was heard saying in a video widely shared on social media.
According to Palestinian health officials, more than 50,000 people have been killed in Gaza since Israel launched its offensive following Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attacks, which left around 1,200 people dead and 250 taken hostage.
Israel has maintained that its military operations aim to dismantle Hamas, which has ruled Gaza since violently ousting the rival Palestinian faction, Fatah, in 2007.
Hamas has not directly commented on the protests but released a statement blaming Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for continuing the war.
Meanwhile, pro-Hamas supporters downplayed the demonstrations, accusing participants of being traitors.
The protests coincided with growing anger over Israel’s decision to evacuate parts of Beit Lahia following rocket fire from Gaza-based Islamic Jihad militants.
Israel has long accused Hamas of diverting humanitarian aid for its military operations, a claim the group denies.
The United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) recently warned that Gaza faces an acute hunger crisis, with no food, water, or medicine entering the enclave for over three weeks.
While open criticism of Hamas has increased in Gaza since the war began, the true level of opposition remains difficult to gauge due to fears of retaliation.
“Step down and let us tend to our wounds,” Gaza resident Mohammed Al-Najjar wrote in a viral social media post, expressing a sentiment echoed by many on the ground.
However, with no ceasefire in sight, observers say Tuesday’s protests signal a potential shift in public sentiment, as more residents voice their anger not just at Israel’s offensive but also at Hamas’s continued rule amid the devastation.
