In a rare show of defiance, hundreds of Palestinians protested in Gaza on Tuesday, demanding an end to both the war and Hamas rule. Demonstrations erupted in at least three locations, with chants of “Hamas out,” “Yes to peace, no to war,” and “We want to eat.”
One protest took place outside the Indonesian Hospital in Beit Lahia, where demonstrators carried white flags and signs reading “Stop war.” Others gathered in the Jabalia refugee camp, burning tires and calling for change. In Khan Younis, protesters chanted “Down with Hamas.”
Though Hamas did not officially respond, reports suggest that its security forces, dressed in civilian clothing, broke up the protests. Media outlets linked to Hamas framed the demonstrations as “calls to stop the war,” omitting demands for the group’s removal.
Protests against Hamas are rare due to its strict control over Gaza since seizing power nearly two decades ago. The last major anti-Hamas protest occurred in early 2024, when Gazans called for an end to the war and the release of Israeli hostages.
The ongoing war, triggered by Hamas’s October 7, 2023, terror attack on Israel, has resulted in heavy casualties. Israel says it has killed 20,000 Hamas fighters and accuses the group of using civilians as human shields. Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry reports over 50,000 Palestinian deaths, though these figures are not independently verified.
While dissent in Gaza has been largely suppressed, these protests signal growing frustration with Hamas and the continued conflict.
