Ohad Merlin
Jerusalem Post, Mar. 27, 2025
The rare anti-Hamas demonstrations that took place over the past few days in Gaza against Hamas took many by surprise. In fact, they were so rare and surprising that analysts had a hard time seeing them as spontaneous or authentic.
They half-jokingly questioned whether the protests might have been orchestrated by Hamas, which has ruled the Gaza Strip with an iron fist for decades, quashing any form of dissent.
The demonstrations, which started in Beit Lahiya in the northern Gaza Strip, were certainly directed against the Israel-Hamas War. In extremely rare fashion, however, they also expressed direct rage at Hamas with slogans such as “Out, out, out! Hamas out!”
There was also direct criticism of Hamas leaders, such as Osama Hamdan, and even slogans such as “Free the prisoners to end the war” were heard – apparently referring to the Israeli hostages still being held by Hamas.
The protesters also criticized Qatar’s state-owned news channel, Al Jazeera, which has banned all criticism of Hamas throughout the war. Any interviewee who dared to point an accusing finger at the terrorist group was immediately taken off the air.
All of this was done in broad daylight. In well-documented videos, Hamas was held responsible for the war, and the protesters called on it to relinquish power. That undoubtedly raised the bar for global surprise. ….SOURCE