Hundreds join Gaza's largest anti-Hamas protest since war began
3 hours ago Share Save Rushdi Aboualouf Gaza correspondent Alex Boyd BBC News Share Save
AFP Hundreds of people took to the streets of Beit Lahia, with many chanting anti-Hamas slogans
Hundreds of people have taken part in the largest anti-Hamas protest in Gaza since the war with Israel began, taking to the streets to demand the group step down from power. Masked Hamas militants, some armed with guns and others carrying batons, intervened and forcibly dispersed the protesters, assaulting several of them. Videos shared widely on social media by activists typically critical of Hamas showed young men marching in the streets of Beit Lahia, northern Gaza on Tuesday, chanting "out, out, out, Hamas out". Hamas has not commented directly on the protest, but in a statement on Wednesday it blamed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for resuming the war.
Pro-Hamas supporters downplayed the significance of the protests and accused the participants of being traitors. The protests in northern Gaza came a day after Islamic Jihad gunmen launched rockets at Israel, prompting an Israeli decision to evacuate large parts of Beit Lahia, which sparked public anger in the area. Israel has resumed its military campaign in Gaza following nearly two months of ceasefire, blaming Hamas for rejecting a new US proposal to extend the truce. Hamas, in turn, has accused Israel of abandoning the original deal agreed in January. Hundreds of Palestinians have been killed and thousands displaced since Israeli military operations resumed with air strikes on 18 March. One of the protesters, Beit Lahia resident Mohammed Diab, had his home destroyed in the war and lost his brother in an Israeli airstrike a year ago. "We refuse to die for anyone, for any party's agenda or the interests of foreign states," he said. "Hamas must step down and listen to the voice of the grieving, the voice that rises from beneath the rubble - it is the most truthful voice." Footage from the town also showed protesters shouting "down with Hamas rule, down with the Muslim Brotherhood rule". Hamas has been the sole ruler in Gaza since 2007, after winning Palestinian elections a year prior and then violently ousting rivals. Open criticism of Hamas has grown in Gaza since war began, both on the streets and online, though there are still those that are fiercely loyal and it is hard to accurately gauge how far support for the group has shifted.
AFP Tuesday's protest was the largest anti-Hamas demonstration since war began following the 7 October attacks
aWhiteWildLion on March 26th, 2025 at 09:36 UTC »
Of course not. It’s not just about refusing to criticize Hamas, it’s about keeping the Arab world calm, making them believe Israel is about to surrender any moment now.
Al Jazeera, with its nonstop coverage of Israel, is basically drugging the Arab public, telling them to sit back and wait for Israel to collapse from within, which is never going to happen.
Funny enough, this same arrogance is what got Nasrallah killed. He heard 24/7 that Israel was on the verge of collapse, and by the time he realized it was all lies, it was too late.
And this isn’t new. During the Six-Day War in 1967, Egyptian radio bragged about victories while their forces were getting wrecked. They claimed to have wiped out Israeli planes, when in reality, their own air force was destroyed. Meanwhile, Israel was steamrolling through Sinai, the West Bank, and the Golan Heights.
This kind of propaganda wasn’t just about morale, it covered up the deeper humiliation. In Arab culture, honor (sharaf or izzah) is everything. Losing a war, especially to an enemy they saw as weak, wasn’t just a defeat, it was a national disgrace. That’s why 1948 and 1967 weren’t just military losses, they shattered the illusion of Arab strength.
Mister-Psychology on March 26th, 2025 at 09:32 UTC »
Al Jazeera journalists are not allowed to cover Hamas in a negative light. This has always been the case as Qatar supports Hamas. This protest has not changed this in any way.
phorocyte on March 26th, 2025 at 07:46 UTC »
Several other news sources are reporting on the protests. If you Google "Al Jazeera Hamas protests" the only hits you get on the story are from those other news websites.