Hundreds of Palestinians took to the streets in northern Gaza on Tuesday, demanding an end to the ongoing war and chanting “Hamas out,” marking a rare public display of opposition to the group. The protest followed the resumption of conflict after Israel restarted its offensive on March 18, targeting Hamas with airstrikes across Gaza.
Northern Gaza, one of the most heavily impacted regions of the enclave, has seen much of its infrastructure destroyed. The densely populated area has left its residents with little refuge, as many have been forced to move repeatedly to escape the violence.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu quickly pointed to the protests as evidence that Israel’s strategy in Gaza was working. The demonstrations come as Hamas has withdrawn much of its police presence following Israel’s renewed military operations. A video shared on social media from the Beit Lahiya area on March 25 shows protesters marching through streets lined with damaged buildings, chanting against Hamas.
One local witness described the protest as a spontaneous rally fueled by widespread frustration. “People are exhausted and have nowhere left to go,” said the witness, who requested anonymity due to fear of retribution.
The protests appeared to spread on Wednesday, with additional reports of demonstrations in the Shejaia district of Gaza City, where protesters also called for Hamas to step down. However, the authenticity of these videos could not be independently verified.
Hamas official Basem Naim acknowledged the right to protest but criticized the demonstration, suggesting there were hidden political motives behind it. He also questioned why similar protests had not occurred in the West Bank or against Israeli actions there.
The rival Fatah movement, which leads the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, has urged Hamas to heed the demands of the people in Gaza, further illustrating the ongoing political tensions among Palestinian factions.
Since the resumption of Israeli airstrikes, nearly 700 Palestinians have been killed, the majority of whom are women and children, according to Palestinian health officials. More than 50,000 Palestinians have died since the beginning of the conflict, which erupted after a Hamas-led raid into southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing over 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages.
As the conflict rages on, Gaza’s civilian population continues to bear the brunt, with widespread devastation and displacement across the region.