In a rare and unprecedented demonstration, hundreds of Palestinians in Beit Lahiya, a northern town in Gaza, took to the streets on Tuesday to protest against Hamas and ongoing violence. Videos circulating on Telegram showed protesters chanting slogans such as:
- “The people don’t want war.”
- “The people don’t want Hamas.”
- “The people don’t want Al Jazeera.”
Call for Peace Amid Violence
Gaza activist Hamza al-Masry, who shared these videos with his 844,000 followers on Telegram, emphasized the urgency for peace. He wrote, “From the city of Beit Lahiya, where the occupation forces evacuated the city yesterday, its people are coming out demanding an end to the war and saying, ‘Enough.'”
In another post, al-Masry urged all residents of Gaza to unite with a common message, stating, “It is time for our people in all the governorates of the Gaza Strip to come out like them and to be united. The people of Gaza want to stop the torrent of bloodshed. Enough is enough.”
Fatah’s Role in Mobilizing Protests
Arabic analysts on Telegram observed that Fatah supporters in Gaza are leveraging their social media platforms to encourage residents of the Strip to join the protests and call for an end to the bloodshed.
Background: Hamas Attacks and Casualties
The protest comes in the wake of Hamas’s attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on October 7, where:
- 1,180 people were killed.
- 252 Israelis and foreigners were taken hostage.
- Of the 59 hostages still held, 36 are believed to be dead.
A Growing Call for Change
This rare public outcry highlights the growing frustration and exhaustion among Gaza’s residents, who are increasingly seeking an end to the ongoing violence and destruction.
