Saturday, March 29, 2025
After nearly two decades of dominance, Hamas faces rare and growing protests from within Gaza, as residents demand change amid war and despair.
On the battered streets of Gaza, an unmistakable wave of anger is rising. Once too fearful to speak out, residents are now openly voicing their discontent against Hamas, the group that has ruled the enclave since 2007.
Chants of “Hamas is garbage” and “All of Hamas, out!” have been recorded in recent protests, as desperation overrides fear in one of the world’s most isolated territories.
Moumen al-Natour, a lawyer and former political prisoner, is among the voices breaking the silence. Speaking from the ruins of his home, he declared:
“Hamas must go. We are tired of living in its shadow.”
His scathing criticism, including a recent op-ed declaring support for Hamas as support for death, underscores a shift in public tone.
Now 30, al-Natour says his entire adult life has been shaped by violence and repression. “My life has been wasted between wars,” he said.
But this rising tide of dissent carries danger. Just weeks ago, 22-year-old Oday al-Rubai was abducted and found dead after participating in anti-Hamas demonstrations.
In a haunting video before his death, al-Rubai said, “Gaza has become a city of ghosts… they destroyed us.”
Human rights groups condemned his killing as an extrajudicial execution, and his family directly blamed Hamas for his death.
In the northern town of Beit Lahiya, residents have gone a step further. When Hamas militants attempted to launch attacks from a civilian home, locals pushed back—physically driving the gunmen away despite being fired upon.
“We don’t want your weapons,” one protester reportedly shouted. “They’ve only brought destruction.”
Protesters have also blocked militants from setting up near schools and hospitals, demanding they keep civilians out of the line of Israeli strikes.
Activists like Amin Abed, now living in Dubai after a brutal attack last year, believe Hamas is losing its ability to intimidate.
“Their power is fading,” he said. “People are no longer afraid like before.”
Despite ongoing Israeli bombardment, many Gazans now see Hamas not as protectors, but as contributors to their suffering.
While Israeli strikes continue to devastate Gaza, growing numbers of civilians blame both sides. “A choice between cholera and the plague,” said Abed, summing up a painful reality.
Though not yet a full-scale revolt, the recent protests mark a rare moment of visible resistance against Hamas’ rule. After 17 years of governance through fear, cracks are appearing in the group’s control.
