Gaza residents have taken to the streets for three consecutive days, marching through towns to demand an end to both the ongoing war with Israel and Hamas’s 18-year rule over Gaza. The protests, which have spread to several towns in the battered enclave, represent the boldest challenge to Hamas’s authority by Palestinians since the October 2023 attack on Israel.
The demonstrations come as Gazans live through deadly and ear-shattering bombing after Israel and Hamas failed to reach an agreement to extend the cease-fire. Residents say they are willing to sacrifice everything to bring peace, but fear that any move against Hamas could lead to further bloodshed.
Analysts say Hamas’s delicate position with Gazans, coupled with its reduced ability to mobilize forces under the threat of Israeli airstrikes, has limited its response to the protests. The group’s internal security forces have largely refrained from cracking down on protesters, and many of their supporters remain quiet or cast doubt on social media about the motives behind the protests.
Despite these challenges, Gazans are pushing back against the idea that all of Gaza supports Hamas and terrorism. Protesters say they want to live in dignity, like anyone else, and are seeking an end to the cycle of violence that has plagued their community for years.
The protests have been small but bold, with hundreds of people participating in each demonstration. The organizers are determined to push through despite the risks, saying “we don’t have anything to lose” as they seek a way out of the conflict and towards a brighter future.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/27/world/middleeast/gaza-hamas-protests.html