2025 Gaza Strip anti-Hamas protests

{{See also|Criticism of Hamas}}

Under Hamas' government and the Israeli blockade, living conditions in the Gaza Strip have been poor,{{cite web |last1=De Luce |first1=Dan |last2=Cavazuti |first2=Lisa |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/gaza-plagued-poverty-hamas-no-shortage-cash-come-rcna121099 |title=Gaza is plagued by poverty, but Hamas has no shortage of cash. Where does it come from? |work=NBC News |date=25 October 2023 |access-date=27 March 2025|quote=The unemployment rate in Gaza is 47% and more than 80% of its population lives in poverty, according to the United Nations.}}{{cite web |last=Humaid |first=Maram |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/9/27/gaza-graduates-demand-unrwa-solutions-for-high-unemployment-rate |title=Gaza graduates demand UNRWA solutions for high unemployment rate |work=Al Jazeera |date=27 September 2023 |access-date=27 March 2025}} with Hamas accused by various sources of human rights abuses against Palestinian civilians.{{cite book|url=https://www.hrw.org/world-report-2012/world-report-2012-israeloccupied-palestinian-territories |title=World Report 2012: Israel/Occupied Palestinian Territories |publisher=Human Rights Watch |date=January 22, 2012 |access-date=27 March 2025}}{{cite news|title=Gaza Palestinians tortured, summarily killed by Hamas forces during 2014 conflict|url=https://www.amnesty.org/press-releases/2015/05/gaza-palestinians-tortured-summarily-killed-by-hamas-forces-during-2014-conflict/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150527024539/https://www.amnesty.org/press-releases/2015/05/gaza-palestinians-tortured-summarily-killed-by-hamas-forces-during-2014-conflict/|archive-date=May 27, 2015|access-date=27 March 2025|publisher=Amnesty International|date=May 27, 2015}}{{cite news|url=http://www.maannews.com/Content.aspx?id=769825|title=Reporters Without Borders condemns Hamas for 'torture' of journalist|work=Ma'an News Agency|access-date=27 March 2025|archive-date=March 9, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160309015236/http://www.maannews.com/Content.aspx?id=769825|url-status=dead}} Several months before the outbreak of war, large-scale anti-Hamas protests broke out in Gaza over economic conditions, which were met with arrests by police.{{cite news |last1=Adam |first1=Ali |title=Despite Hamas' crackdown, Gaza protests continue in rare defiance |url=https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2023/08/despite-hamas-crackdown-gaza-protests-continue-rare-defiance |access-date=9 November 2023 |work=Al-Monitor |date=2023-08-06}} Since the 7 October attacks and subsequent onset of the Gaza war, conditions have worsened, with Gaza Palestinians experiencing a severe humanitarian crisis and the tightening of the Israeli blockade. Major problems include an ongoing electricity crisis and famine.

Opinion polling in the Gaza Strip conducted by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research (PSR) showed approval rates of Hamas dropping from 42% shortly after the 7 October attacks to 21% in January 2025.{{cite news |last1=Mallock |first1=Nils |title=We asked the people of Gaza how they saw their future – this is what we found |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/feb/21/people-gaza-future-hamas-poll |access-date=26 March 2025 |work=The Guardian |date=21 February 2025}} According to a survey conducted in Gaza by Gallup International in early March 2025, more than half of Gazans would leave the Strip if given the opportunity. The survey also found that the main issues troubling residents include chronic shortages of electricity, fuel, water, and food, as well as a general sense of insecurity in the region.{{Cite news |last=Bodkin |first=Henry |date=2025-03-21 |title=More than half of Gazans would leave if given chance, poll finds |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/03/21/more-than-half-gazans-would-leave-given-chance-poll/ |access-date=2025-03-27 |work=The Telegraph |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}}

A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took place from 19 January 2025 to 18 March 2025.{{cite news |title=Israel breaks ceasefire with surprise airstrike, killing more than 400 Palestinians |url=https://apnews.com/live/latest-updates-israel-launches-new-wave-of-airstrikes-across-gaza-after-ceasefire-talks-stall#00000195-a988-d36f-a797-a99b37260000 |access-date=26 March 2025 |work=AP News |date=18 March 2025 |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Berg |first1=Raffi |title=Gaza ceasefire deal – the latest on the truce |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy5klgv5zv0o |access-date=25 March 2025 |work=BBC News |date=18 March 2025}} After it was implemented, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) withdrew from nearly all of the Gaza Strip, and fighting paused for around two months. On the night of 18 March, Israel ended the ceasefire by launching a surprise attack on Gaza, stating that their airstrikes targeted senior Hamas officials. According to Palestinian sources, the strikes resulted in over 500 fatalities.{{Cite web |last1=McCready |first1=Alastair |last2=Rowlands |first2=Lyndal |date=20 March 2025 |title=Israel kills 71 in predawn attacks on Gaza; Netanyahu warns of 'fierce' war |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2025/3/20/live-israel-kills-70-in-gaza-netanyahu-warns-of-fierce-war-expanding |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250320042213/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2025/3/20/live-israel-kills-70-in-gaza-netanyahu-warns-of-fierce-war-expanding |archive-date=20 March 2025 |access-date=20 March 2025 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}}{{cite web|url= https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9vy3k4dpz0o.amp | title= Israel launches waves of strikes on Gaza with more than 400 reportedly killed | date= 25 March 2025|work = BBC}}{{Cite web |author1=Alice Speri |author2=Lyndal Rowlands |author3=Alastair McCready |author4=Federica Marsi |author5=Farah Najjar |date=20 March 2025 |title=Updates: Israel begins ground invasion of Rafah, south Gaza |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2025/3/20/live-israel-kills-70-in-gaza-netanyahu-warns-of-fierce-war-expanding |access-date=26 March 2025 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en |archive-date=20 March 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250320042213/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2025/3/20/live-israel-kills-70-in-gaza-netanyahu-warns-of-fierce-war-expanding |url-status=live }}

The current protests began a day after Palestinian Islamic Jihad, a Hamas-allied militant group, fired rockets toward Israel. Israel then ordered a large portion of Beit Lahia’s residents to evacuate, sparking significant anger among the local population.

CNN estimated that "thousands" had protested in Beit Lahiya, and AP estimated around 3,000. A Middle East expert stated that he would not "be surprised if there were 10,000 in total" protesters across the different protests. The protestors chanted slogans such as "we want an end to the war" and "we want to live", as well as "Hamas out" and "Hamas are terrorists." Protesters held signs and banners with phrases such as "enough of displacement" and "stop the war", as well as "Hamas does not represent us."

In the northern city of Beit Lahia, where public anger erupted after Israel demanded the city's evacuation as it resumed military operations in the area, hundreds to thousands of people, mostly men, marched in the streets, waving white flags and chanting “Hamas out” and “Hamas terrorists”; some protesters held banners reading “Stop the war” and “We want to live in peace” and some were chanting slogans against the Muslim Brotherhood.{{Efn|Hamas originated in 1987 as a branch of the Muslim Brotherhood.{{cite book|last=Kabahā|first=Muṣṭafá|title=The Palestinian People: Seeking Sovereignty and State|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QyTCNAEACAAJ|year=2014|publisher= Boulder, CO, Lynne Rienner Publishers|isbn=978-1588268822}}}} According to The Jerusalem Post, some protesters called for the release of the remaining prisoners still alive– possibly referring to the Israeli hostages held by Hamas.{{cite news |last1=Danaher |first1=Caitlin |last2=Al Za'anoun |first2=Khader |last3=Salman |first3=Abeer |title=Palestinians take part in largest anti-Hamas protests in Gaza since start of war |url=https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/25/middleeast/anti-hamas-protests-gaza-intl-latam/index.html |work=CNN |date=25 March 2025 |language=en}} Footage additionally showed protesters chanting anti-Muslim Brotherhood slogans. Masked militants of the Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas' armed wing, some of whom were armed and others who were carrying batons, dispersed and assaulted protesters.

The protests took place primarily outside the Indonesian Hospital. According to The Jerusalem Post, one demonstrator called on Al Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif to come out of the hospital and report on what was happening– implicitly referring to the network’s unwillingness to criticize Hamas.

A second demonstration took place later in the day in the Jabalia refugee camp, where protestors burned tires and demanded an end to the war, chanting "We want to eat".{{Cite web |date=25 March 2025 |title=Footage shows second anti-war, anti-Hamas demonstration in Gaza within hours |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/footage-shows-second-anti-war-anti-hamas-demonstration-in-gaza-within-hours/ |access-date=25 March 2025 |website=The Times of Israel |language=en-US}}

Following news of the protests, additional demonstrations began to emerge in Khan Yunis, where protesters were seen chanting for an end to the war and shouting, “Down with Hamas”.

As of the evening of 25 March, Telegram messages from unknown sources were calling on people to reprise the demonstrations in various parts of the Gaza Strip the next day.

The anti-Hamas protests across the Gaza Strip continued on 26 March.{{Cite news |last1=Sedghi |first1=Amy |last2=Lavelle |first2=Daniel |date=26 March 2025 |title=Middle East crisis live: Netanyahu repeats threat to seize parts of Gaza if Hamas does not release hostages |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/mar/26/anti-hamas-protests-gaza-israel-hamdan-ballal-middle-east-crisis-live?CMP=share_btn_url&page=with:block-67e3f1038f08f13b630d68a0#block-67e3f1038f08f13b630d68a0 |access-date=26 March 2025 |work=the Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}{{Cite web |date=25 March 2025 |title=Video Anti-Hamas protests continue in Gaza |url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/video/anti-hamas-protests-continue-gaza-120174070 |access-date=26 March 2025 |website=ABC News |language=en}} The Times of Israel reported that "thousands" of Palestinians rallied in northern Gaza.{{cite web |last1=Sharon |first1=Jeremy |last2=Sokol |first2=Sam |date=26 March 2025 |title=Demonstrations swell as thousands join second day of protests against Hamas in Gaza |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/demonstrations-swell-as-thousands-join-second-day-of-protests-against-hamas-in-gaza/ |access-date=27 March 2025 |website=The Times of Israel}}

On the second day of protests, hundreds (or thousands) of demonstrators gathered in Beit Lahia, continuing to chant slogans such as “Hamas out! Hamas is terrorism!” and “We want to live freely".{{Cite news |date=26 March 2025 |title=Palestinians in Gaza protest against Hamas for a second day |url=https://www.npr.org/2025/03/26/nx-s1-5340645/palestinians-protest-hamas-rule-in-gaza |access-date=26 March 2025 |work=NPR |language=en}}{{Cite news |last1=Bashir |first1=Abu Bakr |last2=Abuheweila |first2=Iyad |last3=Yazbek |first3=Hiba |last4=Ahmad |first4=Rawan Sheikh |date=26 March 2025 |title=Gazans Protest Against Hamas and War for a Second Day |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/26/world/middleeast/gaza-hamas-protests.html |access-date=26 March 2025 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}

A relatively small protest also took place in Gaza City, where demonstrators likewise chanted slogans against Hamas. In Shijaiyah neighborhood of Gaza City, dozens of protesters were seen chanting, “Out, out, out! Hamas, get out!”. In eastern Gaza City, NBC News captured on camera a crowd chanting "Leave us Hamas. We want to live freely."{{Cite web |date=2025-03-27 |title=Why protesters in Gaza want Hamas out after more than a year of war |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/gaza-protests-hamas-war-israel-ceasefire-trump-rcna198315 |access-date=2025-04-19 |website=NBC News |language=en}}

For the first time since the protests began, a demonstration took place in Deir al-Balah, where, according to one participant, around 300 protesters were present.

Protests continued on 27 March in the northern part of the Gaza Strip, particularly in Jabaliya and Beit Lahia, as well as spreading to other cities such as Gaza City and Khan Younis.{{Cite web |date=2025-03-27 |title=Israelis Encouraged as Anti-Hamas Protests Spread; Katz Urges Gazans to Rise Up Against Terror Leaders |url=https://cbn.com/news/israel/israelis-encouraged-anti-hamas-protests-spread-katz-urges-gazans-rise-against-terror |access-date=2025-03-28 |website=CBN |language=en}} In Jabaliya, protestors were seen shouting the names of senior Hamas officials and chanting "Shame, shame, the cause of the destruction," and "The earth is shaking," as well as carrying signs which said "We won't be pawns," "We want to live," and "Hamas out."{{Cite web |last=Kleiman |first=Shachar |date=2025-03-27 |title=Gaza protests against Hamas show no signs of slowing down |url=https://www.jns.org/gaza-protests-against-hamas-show-no-signs-of-slowing-down/ |access-date=2025-03-28 |website=JNS.org |language=en-US}}

A mass protest was held in Beit Lahia, demanding removal of Hamas rule and an end of war.{{#invoke:Cite web||url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/mass-protest-calling-for-hamass-ouster-end-to-the-war-held-in-gazas-beit-lahiya/|title=Mass protest calling for Hamas's ouster, end to the war held in Gaza's Beit Lahiya|date=2 April 2025|website=The Times of Israel}}

Dozens of Gazans protested against Hamas in Jabalia, chanting slogans such as "Hamas are terrorists" and "Hamas are garbage".{{Cite web |last=Nurit |first=Yohanan |date=2025-04-06 |title=Palestinians said to take part in anti-Hamas demonstration in north Gaza |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/palestinians-said-to-take-part-in-anti-hamas-demonstration-in-north-gaza/ |access-date=2025-04-07 |website=www.timesofisrael.com |language=en-US}}

A protest against war and Hamas was held in Beit Lahia.{{Cite web |date=2025-04-16 |title=‘No to terror, yes to peace’: New protest against Hamas reported in northern Gaza |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/no-to-terror-yes-to-peace-new-protest-against-hamas-reported-in-northern-gaza/|access-date=2025-04-16 |website=The Times of Israel|language=en-US}}

According to Deutsche Welle, it was "difficult to state with certainty" that the protests in Gaza were representing an uprising against Hamas or directed exclusively against Hamas. Deutsche Welle concluded that the protests reflected a wide range of Palestinian opinions in Gaza, including some that were explicitly anti-Hamas.

Senior Hamas official Basem Naim commented on the protests stating that "demonstrations are to be expected from people, facing extermination, against war and destruction" and that the people had the right to protest, but that their focus should be on the "criminal aggressor, which is the occupation and its army".{{Cite web |date=26 March 2025 |title=Middle East latest: Israel orders more evacuations and Palestinians stage rare anti-Hamas protests |url=https://apnews.com/article/mideast-gaza-israel-hamas-war-latest-03-26-2025-ebc0f115bacd73ad11bf6f2a04bd1b8b |access-date=27 March 2025 |website=AP News |language=en}} The Times of Israel also noted on 26 March of the lack of direct intervention, attributing to Hamas maintaining a lower profile since Israel resumed its military operations. Even so, there are reports suggesting that Hamas operatives abducted, tortured, and killed a Gazan who had taken part in the protests.{{Cite web |date=2025-03-30 |title=Palestinian dissident abducted, tortured, and killed by Hamas in Gaza |url=https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-848143 |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=The Jerusalem Post {{!}} JPost.com |language=en}} Additional reports indicate that Hamas responded harshly to the Gazans who protested against them: Hamas publicly flogged some of the demonstrators, kidnapped several others (some of them remain missing), and executed five more Gazans in addition to Oday Nasser Al Rabay.

On 29 March, the family of 22-year-old Oday Nasser Al Rabay, who participated in the protests, said that he was kidnapped, tortured, and killed by Hamas militants, with some reports claiming that his body had been dragged through the streets before it was returned to his family’s home. Thousands of people attended his funeral, shouting "In spirit and blood we'll redeem you, Odai!", "Allahu akbar", and "Out, out, out! Hamas out!".{{Cite web |last=Magid |first=Jacob |date=2025-03-30 |title=Gazan man murdered by Hamas after joining protests against terror group, family says |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/gazan-man-murdered-by-hamas-after-joining-protests-against-terror-group/ |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=The Times of Israel |language=en-US}}

Gazans in favor of Hamas have reacted negatively to the protests, downplaying them and accusing participants of being traitors.{{Cite web |last=Timotija |first=Filip |date=25 March 2025 |title=Hundreds in Gaza take to streets to protest Hamas |url=https://thehill.com/policy/international/5214244-hundreds-in-gaza-take-to-streets-to-protest-hamas/ |website=The Hill}} Some protesters in Jabaliya reportedly regretted participating, feeling that pro-Israel media only emphasized the protests as "anti-Hamas." These protestors stated that during the protests, they had chanted against not only Hamas, but also Israel, the Palestinian Authority, and the Arab mediators of the conflict. One protester in Jabaliya said that there were scuffles between pro-Hamas supporters and opponents of Hamas in the protest. Another protester in Jabaliya said they were scared of retribution for participating in the protests.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz called on Palestinians to join the protests and "demand the removal of Hamas from Gaza and the immediate release of all Israeli hostages."

{{Portal|Palestine

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• Criticism of Hamas
• Israeli hostage deal protests
• Fatah–Hamas conflict

{{reflist}}

• {{cite report |date=4 December 2024 |title='You Feel Like You Are Subhuman': Israel's Genocide Against Palestinians In Gaza |url=https://amnesty.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Amnesty-International-Gaza-Genocide-Report-December-4-2024.pdf |publisher=Amnesty International |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241205121850/https://amnesty.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Amnesty-International-Gaza-Genocide-Report-December-4-2024.pdf |archive-date=5 December 2024 |url-status=live |ref={{harvid|Amnesty International report|2024}} }}
• {{cite magazine |last=Burga |first=Solcyré |date=13 November 2023 |title=Is What's Happening in Gaza a Genocide? Experts Weigh In |url=https://time.com/6334409/is-whats-happening-gaza-genocide-experts |magazine=Time |access-date=24 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231125022352/https://time.com/6334409/is-whats-happening-gaza-genocide-experts/ |archive-date=25 November 2023 |url-status=live }}
• {{cite news |last=Corder |first=Mike |date=2 January 2024 |title=South Africa's genocide case against Israel sets up a high-stakes legal battle at the UN's top court |url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/south-africas-genocide-case-israel-sets-high-stakes-106055104 |access-date=3 January 2024 |work=ABC News |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240107013809/https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/south-africas-genocide-case-israel-sets-high-stakes-106055104 |archive-date=7 January 2024 |url-status=live }}
• {{Cite web |last=Quigley |first=John |date=3 July 2024 |title=The Lancet and Genocide By "Slow Death" in Gaza |url=https://arabcenterdc.org/resource/the-lancet-and-genocide-by-slow-death-in-gaza/ |access-date=13 July 2024 |website=Arab Center Washington DC |language=en-US |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240713161805/https://arabcenterdc.org/resource/the-lancet-and-genocide-by-slow-death-in-gaza/ |archive-date=13 July 2024 |url-status=live |ref={{harvid|Quigley|2024b}} }}

{{Gaza war}}

{{Hamas}}

Category:2025 in the Gaza Strip

Category:March 2025 in Asia

Category:Protests in the Gaza Strip

Category:Protests in the Arab world

Category:2025 protests

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Category:2025 in Palestine

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Category:Reactions to the Israel–Hamas war

Category:Israel–Hamas war protests