Hundreds of Palestinian men protested in the northern Gaza Strip on Tuesday, calling for an end to the conflict with Hamas.
Videos circulating on social media showed the demonstration, which occurred as Israeli air strikes and offensive operations against Hamas have resumed after the initial phase of a ceasefire concluded without a second phase agreement.
A video shared with Digital by the Center for Peace Communications showed protesters chanting, “Hamas get out!”
Commentary accompanying the video stated, “Gaza’s people don’t want wars. They demand the end of Hamas’ rule. They demand peace.”
Joseph Braude, president of the Center for Peace Communications, noted that similar anti-Hamas demonstrations occurred in 2019 and on July 30, 2023, but this is the largest since then. He stated this highlights Gazan desires to end Hamas’s control and release all hostages.
Braude added that Gazans are frustrated with Al-Jazeera and other global media outlets for focusing solely on Hamas and neglecting the voices of Gazan civilians, adding that increased attention to these demonstrators could facilitate positive change in Gaza and the region.
Palestinian civilians have suffered greatly since Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, attack, which resulted in approximately 1,200 Israeli deaths and 251 abductions. Fifty-eight hostages remain captive, with only 25 believed to be alive after 535 days, including American hostage .
The Hamas-run Gaza’s Health Ministry reported on Sunday that about 50,000 Palestinians, including , have died since Israel resumed air strikes after hostage release negotiations stalled following a tenuous ceasefire.
The ministry also stated that over 15,600 Palestinian children have been killed since Oct. 7, 2023.
According to Israeli news agency TPS-IL, Gaza activist Hamza al-Masry shared footage of the protest on Telegram, urging Palestinians throughout Gaza to unite and demand an end to the bloodshed.
“The people of Gaza want to stop the torrent of bloodshed of our people, and enough is enough,” he added.
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