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Amid the ruins of Gaza, growing anger and resentment toward Hamas is rising among residents of the Strip, worn down by war and the harsh grip of hunger.

Amal Ashraf, a Palestinian woman from Beit Lahia in northern Gaza, lost three of her children in the war that erupted after Hamas‘s attack on Israeli towns on October 7, 2023.

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In an interview with Australia’s ABC News, Amal said: “I lost three of my sons, and now they’ve left orphans behind. Every time I look at my grandchildren, my heart breaks — my sons are gone.”

Despite her overwhelming grief and a cancer diagnosis requiring urgent surgery, Amal took to the streets along with hundreds of other Palestinians in protest against Hamas, following the renewed Israeli bombardment in March.

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She added: “I lost my children, so of course I’ll protest. I want to scream: no to war, no to war. So many of us are against this war, and nothing changes. We support peaceful protests calling for an end to the war. We want a government that brings us safety — our children are starving, and we are exhausted.”

“The People Want Hamas to Fall”

These protests have been described as the largest demonstrations against Hamas since the start of the Gaza war.

During the rallies, Palestinians voiced sorrow over the massive destruction inflicted by Israeli forces, but blamed Hamas for allowing the catastrophe to continue.

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Protesters chanted: “Out, out Hamas“, “The people want Hamas to fall.”

Rafed Mohammed Atta, one of the demonstrators, told ABC News: “We demand that Hamas leave Gaza today — we won’t wait any longer.”

He continued: “We want Abu Mazen (Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas) to rule Gaza… We want him to take over because Hamas is destroying our people.”

Mahmoud Abbas, head of the Fatah movement, has led the Palestinian Authority since 2005. No elections have been held since.

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Protests Met with Violence

The demonstrations against Hamas were not without bloodshed. Amnesty International has documented a disturbing pattern of threats, intimidation, arrests, and torture by Hamas security forces targeting protesters.

Erika Guevara-Rosas, Amnesty’s Director of Research, stated: “It is disgraceful and outrageous that while Palestinians in Gaza endure atrocities at the hands of Israel, Hamas is worsening their suffering by escalating threats and intimidation simply because people dare to say: we want to live.”

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In May, Hamas — which seized power in Gaza by force in 2007 and maintains tight security control — announced the execution of six individuals and shot 13 others in the legs on charges of looting.

In recent weeks, the Committee to Protect Journalists has reported testimonies from Gaza-based journalists who were threatened and attacked by Hamas for covering anti-Hamas protests.

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A Repressive Ideology

Hassan Ayoub, a political science professor at An-Najah University in the West Bank, explained to ABC that: “Hamas holds a specific religious, political, and social ideology and sometimes uses repressive methods against opposition voices.”

In March, the family of 22-year-old Adi Al-Rubai revealed that their son had been abducted and tortured for hours by Hamas before his body was dumped outside their home.

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Israel’s Justification for War

Israel claims its war targets Hamas, not civilians. However, the Gaza Health Ministry reports more than 54,000 deaths, prompting international accusations against Israel for indiscriminate bombing.

Israel says its goal is to pressure Hamas into releasing 58 hostages, only 21 of whom are believed to still be alive. Negotiations remain stalled, with Hamas refusing to disarm without clear guarantees for a war’s end.

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Hamas Gains from the War

Hamadeh Al-Zaanoun, who lost his home and family members, believes Hamas leaders are benefiting from the conflict: “We reject their rule because it only serves their supporters. Even before the war, they governed for a select group, leaving the rest deprived.”

He added: “We reject Hamas’s policies during this war. We want it to end. We love life — we don’t want to die. As children and youth, we want to stay alive.”

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