Gazans Protest Hamas Rule Amid War and Destruction

For nearly two decades, Gaza has lived under the weight of two simultaneous sieges: an external blockade imposed by Israel and an internal stranglehold maintained by Hamas. Now, amid one of the deadliest escalations in recent memory, the people of Gaza—caught in the crossfire of geopolitics—are daring to speak out. For the first time in years, many Gazans are directing their fury not at Israel, but inward, toward their own rulers.

The seeds of this unrest go back to 2006 when Hamas won the last Palestinian legislative elections. After a bloody conflict with the Palestinian Authority, Hamas took complete control of Gaza in 2007. Many residents hoped for positive change. Instead, they were met with a brutal regime that tolerated no dissent and delivered only cyclical conflict. Since then, Gaza has known war more than peace, poverty more than prosperity, and silence more than freedom.

October 7, 2023, marked a turning point. In a surprise offensive, Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israel. Israel responded with overwhelming military force, turning Gaza into a warzone. Buildings collapsed, infrastructure crumbled, and entire neighborhoods were erased. With tens of thousands displaced and humanitarian aid largely cut off, Gaza descended into a humanitarian catastrophe.

But amidst this devastation, a new narrative is emerging: Gazans, long silenced, are now saying “enough.” Public protests against Hamas are surfacing, despite the grave risks. In a region where dissent is met with detention, torture, or death, this is nothing short of extraordinary. Protesters have been beaten. Some have disappeared. Others were reportedly left to die. Yet the tide is turning. Citizens are refusing to shelter Hamas fighters or allow their homes to be used as militant hideouts. The resistance, though quiet and unarmed, is gaining ground.

This grassroots uprising is a cry for freedom—from both Hamas and the destruction wrought by Israel’s continued offensive. But critics ask, is it too little, too late? Gaza today is a shadow of itself—its cities reduced to rubble and its children starving. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made it clear: this war will not end until Hamas is eliminated. His latest campaign has declared entire urban zones as combat areas. Airstrikes continue unabated. Just recently, nearly 60 people were killed in a single day of bombing.

International pressure is mounting. Nations like the UK, Canada, and France have condemned the ongoing military campaign. The UK has even suspended trade talks with Israel and summoned its ambassador. Meanwhile, humanitarian agencies warn of catastrophic consequences. The United Nations reports that over 14,000 infants are at risk of dying from malnutrition in the coming days unless aid deliveries increase significantly.

Netanyahu, bowing to some pressure, has agreed to allow minimal aid into Gaza. But it is not enough. Entire families are starving, and 10% of children are severely malnourished. Hospitals are overwhelmed. UN staff report that Gaza, once filled with life and laughter, now holds only despair.

Yet in the midst of suffering, Gaza’s civilians are no longer remaining silent. Their outrage is not only directed at Israel, but also at the militant leaders who promised liberation but delivered oppression. For years, the world has framed this crisis as Hamas versus Israel. But that binary ignores a crucial third party: the people of Gaza—men, women, and children who have lost everything, yet still dare to hope for a better future.

This is not just a political conflict. It is a humanitarian crisis. And the people of Gaza are rising—not with weapons, but with words, with defiance, and with a plea for a future where they are no longer pawns in a deadly game. They demand change. They deserve peace.