Palestinians protested in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday in a rare show of dissent against Hamas, with some chanting slogans critical of the armed group’s grip on the territory after more than a year of the devastating war with Israel.
Videos verified by The New York Times showed groups of Palestinians in the half-ruined streets in the northern town of Beit Lahiya. Some carried more neutral signs that opposed the continuation of the war, while others chanted slogans calling for Hamas to get out.
Palestinians, at least publicly, tend to blame Israel for much of the death, destruction and hunger the war in Gaza has brought. But at least some hold Hamas responsible, as well, for starting this conflict by leading the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, abducting 251 people to Gaza and continuing to fight rather than giving up its power in exchange for a ceasefire.
Palestinians attend a rally calling for an end to the war, in Beit Lahiya, in the northern Gaza Strip.Credit: AFP
The anger appeared to have resurfaced after Israel last week abandoned a two-month ceasefire and resumed its bombardment of the Gaza Strip in an attempt to pressure Hamas to free more of the remaining hostages.
“We want to continue until the bloodshed stops and Hamas leaves the Palestinian scene,” said Ahmed al-Masri, 35, a construction worker who said he had participated in the rally.
Ibrahim, 32, another Palestinian who joined the protest, said he had arrived in downtown Beit Lahiya to buy food before stumbling into the crowd of demonstrators. He asked to be identified by his first name only for fear of retribution by Hamas.
He said the protesters’ message to Hamas was for it to end the war and leave Gaza.
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Since seizing full control of Gaza in 2007, Hamas has cracked down harshly on dissent by detaining critics and aggressively dispersing demonstrations against its policies. A 2018 Human Rights Watch report accused the group of routinely arresting and torturing opponents.
