In recent days, protests against Hamas rule in the Gaza Strip have intensified, fueled by the dire economic conditions, food shortages, and Hamas’s control over humanitarian aid shipments entering the territory.
These demonstrations have primarily taken place in the Rafah area and northern Gaza Strip, with several hundred participants each time. However, they represent only a small fraction of the over two million residents who are seeking to challenge Hamas’s corrupt governance.
In the Jabalya refugee camp in northern Gaza, Hamas militants dispersed dozens of demonstrators using live ammunition.
Reports from Gaza indicate the emergence of a new group distributing leaflets in the Rafah area under the name “The Free People of Gaza,” urging resistance against Hamas and calling for protests across the entire Gaza Strip.
The backers of this new entity remain unclear, with several possibilities being considered:
- Individuals previously involved in the Gaza social movement “We Want to Live,” which was violently suppressed by Hamas.
- Fatah-affiliated elements exploiting the situation to undermine Hamas’s authority.
- Alleged collaborators with Israel seeking to foment unrest among Gaza’s population against Hamas.
Hamas officials are deeply troubled by this development, fearing that it could escalate across the Strip, leading to a decline in support for the organization.
Consequently, senior Hamas figures have instructed the military wing to forcefully disperse any such demonstrations, even resorting to firearms if necessary.
During one demonstration, participants directed chants against senior Hamas officials Yahya Sinwar and Ismail Haniyeh. A video circulated on social media featured a message: “May God take revenge on Yahya Sinwar, the oppressor who has brought ruin upon Gaza.”
The outrage in the Gaza Strip extends not only to the Hamas leadership residing in luxury abroad but also to Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas leader in Gaza. Sinwar’s actions, including the October 7 massacre in settlements surrounding Gaza, have contributed to the profound suffering endured by Gaza’s residents.
