More than 530 days have passed since the Gaza war began. About 50,144 Palestinians have died due to Israeli violence, and more than 113,700 have been injured. The vast majority of Gazans have been displaced multiple times, and most have lost their homes. After all this brutality, Gazans have said enough. On Tuesday, the largest demonstrations in the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023, took place. “We want the war to end”, hundreds of people in the north of the enclave demanded, while they also chanted “Out with Hamas.”
In the midst of the devastation in northern Gaza, hundreds of Palestinians called for an end to the conflict and for Hamas to relinquish power. This was a rare public display of opposition to the Palestinian group whose attack on October 7, 2023 triggered the war. Previously, Hamas ruled the Strip with an iron fist, pursuing critics and hindering freedom of expression. The various videos circulating on social media since Tuesday night show people marching along a dusty street in Beit Lahia among war-damaged buildings, shouting “Out with Hamas.”
A message shared on social media has called for nine protests against Hamas in Gaza for Wednesday. “Our voices must reach all the spies who sold our blood”, said the organizers. “Let them hear your voice, that Gaza is not silent and that a people will not be eradicated”, they added. The spokesman for Fatah in Gaza, Munther al Hayek, has urged the group to cede power, saying its dominance in the enclave threatens the Palestinian cause, according to WAFA, the Palestinian news agency. The spokesman, whose party is a rival to Hamas, urged the group to heed the population’s demands and to resign for the common good, stating that ending the bloodshed of children must be a priority.
Protests in Israel
Hamas has declared its willingness to cede control of Gaza after the war ends. It even welcomed the Egypt-led reconstruction plan for the enclave, which envisions the creation of a technocratic committee to administer the territory during the first phase of the plan. Also on Tuesday, protests continued in Israel demanding the resumption of the truce and the release of more hostages. A week earlier, the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decided to resume fighting in the Gaza Strip.
Since the early hours of this Wednesday, at least 11 Palestinians have died as a result of Israeli bombardments. Among the victims are five children, including a six-month-old baby. During the last eight days of brutal violence, hundreds have been killed and around 142,000 have been displaced again, according to the United Nations.