Palestinians Protest Against Hamas in Gaza

Anti-Hamas protests continued in Gaza on Wednesday.  

“Day two of massive anti-Hamas protests across Gaza has begun,” Palestinian Christian and human rights activist Ihab Hassan wrote on X. In northern Gaza, video shared by Hassan shows crowds marching and chanting: “Out, out—Hamas should get out!”  

The demonstrations against Hamas began Tuesday as hundreds of Palestinians marched through the streets calling for the end of Hamas rule in Palestine.  

“Anti-Hamas protesters in Gaza are chanting: ‘Hamas is a terrorist,’” Hassan wrote on X with a video of a large crowd of men marching down the street.  

Balig Sladeen, a diplomatic correspondent for i24NEWS English, said Tuesday that Hamas has refused to surrender its arms and leave Gaza, but the locals are “tired” of the endless fighting.  

The protests are also against Al Jazeera, a news outlet that is partially funded by the government of Qatar, Sladeen reports.  

Protesters are “saying that Al Jazeera is coordinating with Hamas and it’s not showing exactly what is happening in the Gaza Strip, or showing it in a different way,” Sladeen said.  

The demonstrations are the largest anti-Hamas protests seen in Gaza since Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.  

The mass protests come days after Israel resumed strikes on Gaza following Hamas’ refusal to release the remaining living hostages. Israel and Hamas agreed to a three-phase ceasefire in January. The first phase, which lasted six weeks, included the release of 33 Israeli hostages, including two Israeli Americans, in exchange for about 1,800 Palestinian prisoners. But negotiations between Israel and Hamas broke down earlier in March after Hamas refused a new proposal to extend the first phase of the ceasefire and release the additional hostages being held in Gaza.  

Relying on the intelligence of local health officials in Gaza, The Associated Press reports that 600 people have been killed in Gaza since strikes between Israel and Hamas resumed. 

About 24 hostages are still believed to be alive in Gaza, including American Edan Alexander. The bodies of an additional 35 hostages are also being held in Gaza.