Calls for Hamas To Step Down Rise as Gaza Sinks Deeper Into Crisis
In an unusually bold display of dissent, hundreds of Palestinians protested against Hamas in northern Gaza on Tuesday, calling for an end to the war with Israel and expressing outrage at the dire humanitarian crisis. As reported by Giorgia Valente for The Media Line, demonstrators in Beit Lahiya and the Jabalia refugee camp chanted slogans like “We are starving, and we are dying under the rubble,” while setting tires on fire and blocking roads. Videos circulating online showed residents confronting Hamas authorities—a rare sight in a territory known for harsh crackdowns on public criticism.
The protests come days after the collapse of a temporary ceasefire and the resumption of Israeli military operations. Much of Gaza, particularly the north, is facing severe shortages of food, water, and medicine. The United Nations has warned of impending famine, and local health officials report nearly 700 deaths in the past week alone due to fighting.
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The demonstrations were reportedly led by intellectuals and journalists—an unusual development in a tightly controlled area where Hamas has ruled since 2007. Statements from local groups accused Hamas of prioritizing its own power over the lives of civilians and called for mass mobilization to demand the group’s departure from Gaza. One such statement read: “Enough is enough. There is no longer room for silence.”
Though still limited in scale, the protests are among the most visible signs of internal opposition to Hamas in over a decade. Whether this discontent will grow into sustained unrest remains uncertain.
Our reporter in the Gaza Strip continues to monitor this developing situation. Read the full article for more on this rare public challenge to Hamas’s rule.
