Gaza Protests Challenge Hamas Rule as War Enters 18th Month
- Elon Gilad
- Apr 7
- 5 min read
For three days in late March, a wave of unprecedented anti-Hamas demonstrations swept across the Gaza Strip, revealing growing internal discontent with Hamas rule as the war with Israel enters its 18th month. What began as a spontaneous outcry against war, hunger, and displacement quickly crystallized into the most significant grassroots expression of public anger at Hamas since the group took control of Gaza in 2007.
Anti-Hamas protests: Key points
Protests began in Beit Lahiya and spread to Gaza City, Deir al-Balah, and Khan Younis.
Demonstrators chanted "Hamas out," "We want to live," and "The blood of our children is not cheap."
Protesters explicitly condemned Iran's influence over Hamas decision-making.
Hamas initially downplayed protests but later responded with threats and violence.
Despite declining support for Hamas, polls show that no rival faction has emerged as more popular than the terror group ruling the Strip.
Experts warn against interpreting protests as a sign of Hamas's imminent collapse.
Why are Gazans protesting?
The demonstrations were driven by despair and desperation. Weeks before, the Israeli military had resumed its offensive, following Hamas's rejection of a proposed ceasefire deal. The IDF issued orders to evacuate areas like Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoun, which triggered mass displacement—again.
Protesters – men and women, young and old – focused their anger on Hamas’s refusal to negotiate a ceasefire and its perceived prioritization of ideological goals over civilian safety. Many explicitly called on Hamas to step down and demanded a return to governance by the Palestinian Authority.
"Enough wars," read signs at protests. Others directly accused the Islamist movement of sacrificing civilians for ideological and military gain, with statements like "The blood of our children is not cheap."
In a striking break from precedent, many protesters also condemned Iran's influence over Hamas decision-making—accusing the group of serving foreign interests at the expense of Gazan lives.
Who are the Gazans protesting
These protests are not being led by Hamas’s political rivals, such as Fatah, which remains largely sidelined in Gaza. According to Dr. Khalil Shikaki, director of the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research, the demonstrations reflect grassroots anger rather than a power play between factions.
The demonstrators include young men, families, and even children—many of whom have been displaced multiple times since October 2023. In the absence of political pluralism, Gaza has little space for formal opposition. Thus, the recent protests are a spontaneous expression of civilian frustration.
In one case, mourners at the funeral of a young protester reportedly chanted against Hamas officials and fired weapons in the air—a rare public challenge to the group's authority.
The dangerous consequences of speaking out
Hamas initially downplayed the protests, framing them as misdirected anger at Israeli aggression. But when videos of the protests went viral and slogans directly denouncing Hamas gained traction, the group changed course.
According to reporting by the Meir Amit Intelligence Center and Reuters, Hamas forces began targeting activists, issuing threats, and in some cases resorting to violence. Social media influencer Hamza al-Masri, a vocal supporter of the protests, said he received death threats and published a farewell video, calling the protests "the voice of truth."
The most serious case involved the reported torture and death of protester Uday Nasser al-Ruba'i. According to local reports, at least six protest organizers were abducted, tortured, and executed. Others were beaten or warned. Social media accounts linked to the protests have gone silent, and residents report an atmosphere of renewed fear.
Despite this heavy-handed response, Hamas has so far avoided mass crackdowns like those it launched during past dissent, such as the 2019 "We Want to Live" protests. The decision not to unleash widespread repression may reflect the limited scale of those protesting and Hamas’s understanding of the precarious humanitarian situation.
What the numbers tell us
Polling data from the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research provides crucial context. Support for Hamas in Gaza stood at 38% in September 2023 and declined only slightly to 35% a year later. No rival faction is more popular: Support for Fatah reached just 29%.
While the percentage of Gazans who believe Hamas was right to launch the October 7 attacks fell from 57% to 39%, trust in the Palestinian Authority remains too low to offer a viable alternative.
Even in specific contexts—like the Palestinian Authority taking over the Rafah crossing—support remains limited. Only 42% of Gazans favored such a move, according to the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research poll. The overwhelming majority continue to blame Israel and the U.S. for their suffering, with just one in five holding Hamas responsible.
Anti-Hamas protests: Why it matters
The appearance of public dissent, however brief, punctures the narrative that Hamas enjoys unchallenged support in Gaza. The war has revealed fractures within Palestinian society—frustrations that were long suppressed by fear, surveillance, and a lack of political alternatives.
Shikaki emphasizes that while many Gazans are deeply critical of Hamas, they also see no credible alternative capable of maintaining civil order, delivering services, or preventing total anarchy. Hamas remains embedded in Gaza's administrative infrastructure and, for better or worse, continues to be perceived as the only force capable of resisting full reoccupation or collapse into chaos.
The Meir Amit Center reached similar conclusions, noting the protests were "genuine and spontaneous" but lacked leadership, organizational structure, or a sustainable base of support. Fear, surveillance, and the threat of violent retaliation have stunted the emergence of any organized opposition.
In this context, even modest demonstrations represent a significant psychological shift. As journalist Nidal al-Mughrabi reported for Reuters, the killing of a Hamas police officer by a local family and the viral video of the incident reveal "a growing willingness" among civilians to act against the movement. The "barrier of fear," long a hallmark of Hamas's rule, is beginning to erode.
But the erosion is not a sign of collapse.
Wrap up
In a speech to the Knesset, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cited the protests as proof that Israel’s military campaign was working, claiming "more and more Gazans are realizing Hamas brings them only destruction." But for now, Hamas retains control over Gaza, and the protests have subsided under pressure. But they offer a glimpse into the political volatility brewing beneath the surface. The war has not only devastated the territory—it has weakened the perceived legitimacy of its rulers.
Hamas's rule has been shaken but not broken—its social contract with Gazans, premised on protection and resistance, is fracturing under the weight of the war’s devastation. While these protests alone won’t topple the regime, they've revealed a critical truth: Despite brutal suppression, Gazan grievances persist and will likely intensify. The existential question isn’t whether Hamas will fall but whether Gaza’s civil society can endure long enough to envision and build a viable alternative.
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Elon Gilad is an Israeli author, journalist, and linguist. His work focuses on uncovering the historical roots of contemporary issues, particularly in current affairs, Jewish history, and the Hebrew language. Gilad is the author of "The Secret History of Judaism." His analytical pieces draw on his diverse background to provide unique insights into today's complex issues, explaining current situations through the lens of historical development.