In the wake of ongoing devastation and relentless conflict, thousands of residents in Gaza have taken to the streets in unprecedented protests against Hamas, the group that has governed the enclave since 2007. The demonstrations, now spanning two consecutive days, represent a significant moment of public dissent against the Palestinian militant organization. Despite Hamas’s long-standing claims that it represents the interests of Gazans, these protests suggest a growing frustration among the people, who now demand change as the war with Israel has claimed more than 50,000 lives.
The anger directed at Hamas has now spilled over onto the streets, with citizens openly challenging its authority. On Wednesday, for the second straight day, hundreds of Palestinians gathered in various parts of the Gaza Strip, defying the rule of Hamas, which has long been known for suppressing opposition. This mass mobilization is believed to be the largest anti-Hamas demonstration since the war erupted in October 2023. Men and women in a devastated northern Gaza town called for Hamas to step down, their voices reflecting the pain of a war that has continued unabated for over a year.
These protests are largely driven by grief, despair, and growing frustration over the recent collapse of ceasefire negotiations with Israel. As the number of casualties in Gaza surpasses 50,000, residents are demanding an end to the violence. Chants of “The people do not want war. The people do not want Hamas” echoed through the streets, signaling a dramatic shift in public sentiment within the war-torn enclave.
In response to the growing unrest, Hamas released a statement on Thursday, attempting to reframe the protests as demonstrations against Israel rather than against its governance. The Times of Israel reported Hamas officials asserting that the protests were aimed at the Israeli military campaign and destruction, not at Hamas itself. However, reports from the ground tell a different story. Protesters in Beit Lahia on Tuesday were heard chanting slogans such as “Hamas out! Hamas terrorists!”—a direct rebuke of the group’s authority.
By Wednesday, the protests had spread and intensified, with increasing numbers of people joining the movement. In Deir al-Balah alone, nearly 300 individuals participated, their voices growing louder against Hamas. According to a report by The New York Times, the rallies became more organized as Gazans gathered en masse to voice their anger at the militant organization that has ruled without elections for nearly two decades.
Many of those who joined the protests expressed their frustration over the immense suffering endured by civilians. Abed Radwan, a resident of Gaza who participated in the demonstrations, told the Associated Press, “Our children have been killed. Our houses have been destroyed. This war has brought nothing but death and misery. We are against the war, against Hamas, against the political factions, against Israel, and against the world’s silence.”
Initially beginning with only a few dozen people, the protests quickly swelled into thousands by Tuesday evening, breaking the long-standing fear that Hamas had instilled in the population. “They made the residents into rabbits, but now they have broken free of the fear because they have nothing left to lose,” said Sami Ubayed, a resident of Gaza, speaking to Israel’s Ynet news outlet.
Despite Hamas’s claims that the protests are solely against war and destruction, witness reports and footage from the protests suggest otherwise. In some instances, there were no visible Hamas security forces attempting to disperse the rallies, possibly indicating an inability or unwillingness to confront the growing discontent. The protests mark a rare moment of open rebellion in a region where Hamas has historically silenced opposition with force.
Hamas was founded in the late 1980s as an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood, and unlike the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and Fatah, which engaged in peace talks with Israel, Hamas has long opposed any diplomatic agreements. After winning the 2006 Palestinian legislative elections, the group seized complete control of Gaza in 2007 following a violent conflict with the rival Fatah faction, which continues to govern the West Bank.
The current protests erupted shortly after a two-month ceasefire between Israel and Hamas collapsed, leading to the resumption of Israel’s military operations with renewed intensity. The destruction has been catastrophic, with entire neighborhoods reduced to rubble. According to a UN World Bank report published in January 2024, damage to Gaza’s infrastructure has reached an estimated $18.5 billion. The UN World Food Programme has reported that more than 20 million Gazans have been displaced, their homes lost to the relentless bombardment. Meanwhile, aid deliveries to the enclave have been severely restricted since Israel tightened its blockade earlier this month.
The human toll has been staggering. The Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry reports that as of Sunday, more than 50,021 people have died in the conflict, with at least 113,274 wounded. Since March 18, when Israel resumed its air and ground operations, 730 additional Palestinian casualties have been reported.
The war was initially triggered by Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, during which militants infiltrated Israeli territory, killing over 1,000 people and taking 250 hostages. Of those taken, 59 remain in captivity, while 35 are believed to have died. Israel’s counteroffensive, aimed at dismantling Hamas’s military and administrative infrastructure, has led to massive destruction and loss of life in Gaza.
Hamas has long been accused of using Gaza’s civilian population, infrastructure, and tunnel networks for strategic advantage in its conflict with Israel. As the war drags on, hopes for a lasting truce continue to fade, deepening the despair of ordinary Gazans.
Amid this devastation, the ongoing protests are a testament to a growing resistance against Hamas from within Gaza itself. The people, fed up with the destruction and suffering, are now openly voicing their demands for change. While Hamas has long managed to suppress dissent, this moment signals a significant challenge to its authority. Not only is Hamas facing attacks from Israel, but it is now also contending with the anger of the very people it claims to represent.