Palestine | Hundreds Join Anti-Hamas Protests in Gaza, Calling for an End to War

Hundreds of Palestinians took to the streets in northern Gaza on Tuesday, demanding an end to the ongoing war with Israel. This protest marks one of the largest public displays of opposition to the militant group since the October 7

Videos circulating on social media depict crowds in the Beit Lahiya region chanting slogans such as “Hamas out” and “Enough wars.” The protests come amid widespread devastation in northern Gaza, where many buildings have been reduced to rubble and the local population has repeatedly been forced to relocate due to ongoing violence.

Witnesses reported that the protest began spontaneously, fueled by a collective exhaustion among residents who feel they have nowhere left to turn. “It was a spontaneous rally against the war because people are tired and they have no place to go,” one participant, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of retribution, stated. “Many chanted slogans against Hamas. People are exhausted, and no one should blame them.”

The videos posted online showed protesters marching through war-damaged streets, holding banners that read “Stop the war” and “We refuse to die.” Some participants expressed their frustration directly, with chants of “Hamas out!” ringing through the air.

Senior Hamas official Basem Naim acknowledged the right of the public to protest the suffering caused by the war but criticized what he termed “suspicious political agendas” that may be exploiting the situation. He questioned the motives behind the protests, noting, “Where are they from, what is happening in the West Bank? Why don’t they protest against the aggression there?”

The protests come amid rising tensions between Palestinian factions, particularly as the rival Fatah movement urged Hamas to heed the call of the Palestinian people. Fatah, which leads the Palestinian Authority in the occupied West Bank, has echoed the sentiments of those in Gaza calling for change.

Participants in the protest conveyed a unified desire for an end to the violence that has ravaged their lives. “We are sick of the bombing, killing, and displacement,” said Ammar Hassan, a young resident of Beit Lahiya. He noted that the protest grew from a small gathering to over 2,000 participants, driven by a shared frustration with Hamas. “It’s the only party we can affect,” he explained. “Protests won’t stop the occupation, but they can affect Hamas.”

Another protester, Mohammed Abu Saker, a father of three, emphasized that the demonstration was centered on the urgent need to protect lives. “We want to stop the killing and displacement, no matter the price,” he said, highlighting the community’s desperation amid the ongoing conflict.

A statement from family elders in Beit Lahiya expressed solidarity with the protests against Israel’s offensive and its tightened blockade on Gaza. While they supported armed resistance against Israel, they also cautioned against any attempts to exploit the legitimate demands of the people, seemingly referencing critics of Hamas.

These protests erupted just a week after Israel resumed its genocide in Gaza, following the end of a temporary ceasefire that had been in place. The return to hostilities has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where Israel has halted deliveries of essential supplies to the region’s 2 million residents.