Thousands of Palestinians Protest Against Hamas in Gaza, Outraged by Israel's Actions and Global Silence

Thousands of Palestinians Protest Against Hamas in Gaza, Outraged by Israel's Actions and Global Silence

Gaza, April 2, 2025 — Last week, thousands of Palestinians participated in protests against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, marking one of the largest expressions of anger against Hamas. The protesters stated that they were expressing their frustration and anger at enduring new warfare and displacement. While they blamed Hamas, they also criticized Israel and other powers for their suffering.

Since Hamas took power in Gaza in 2007, public opposition from Palestinians has been rare. Hamas has harshly suppressed such protests, imprisoning, torturing, or killing those who spoke out against their rule. However, despite the war, Hamas still controls Gaza, although its top leadership and thousands of fighters have been killed.

Do Palestinians Support Hamas?

Through various surveys and political analyses, it has been found that most Palestinians support resistance against Israel’s military occupation and settlement, which existed even before Hamas was founded. Support for Hamas generally increases in Gaza and the West Bank during times of war with Israel and decreases during peace periods.

However, after Hamas's attack on October 7, 2023, support for Hamas notably increased in the West Bank. In Gaza, support increased somewhat after the attack, but it did not last long.

Conducting wartime surveys in Gaza is difficult because many areas are inaccessible, and large numbers of people have been displaced. However, most Palestinians fear speaking out against Hamas’s rule because it could lead to retaliation, especially from Hamas or Israel.

How Does Hamas Suppress Criticism and Opposition?

Since Hamas took power, they have not tolerated public criticism. According to human rights organizations, they arrest, torture, and kill political opponents. While some protesters have peacefully protested against Hamas, such protests are extremely rare.

Additionally, criticizing Hamas is often seen as a betrayal within Palestinian society, especially during wartime. Palestinians generally view armed resistance as the only path to freedom, as peace talks and handling unrest have largely failed.

Why is There No Alternative to Hamas in Gaza?

The last round of Israel-Palestinian peace talks collapsed in 2009, and since then, no strong leadership has emerged from the Palestinian side. The popularity of Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas has hit rock bottom, and Israel does not want Fatah to have any role in Gaza.

Without a strong political alternative to Hamas in Palestine, many protesters have expressed their frustration. They said, "Our children have been killed, our homes have been destroyed," and the main purpose of the protests was to protest against the war, Hamas, other Palestinian factions, Israel, and "the silence of the world."