Third day in a row Protests in Southern Gaza Challenge Hamas Amid Rising Discontent

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Protests in Southern Gaza Challenge Hamas Amid Rising Discontent

 

For the third consecutive day, thousands of Palestinians in southern Gaza have taken to the streets to protest against Hamas, in a rare and dangerous display of public dissent against the ruling armed group. Footage shared on social media shows crowds chanting loudly, “Out! Out! Out! All of Hamas, out!” in an unmistakable call for the group’s removal from power.

Thousands of courageous anti-Hamas Gazan protesters are screaming "Hamas get out, we want to live, damned are Hamas's leaders, children have a right to live"! Will anyone listen? Will pro-Palestine activists, NGOs, politicians, journalists & online personalities take notice?!💔🙏 pic.twitter.com/atsRfs1IEg

— Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib (@afalkhatib) May 19, 2025

 

In Gaza, where open criticism of Hamas can have deadly consequences, these demonstrations mark a dramatic escalation in civilian frustration. On Tuesday, threats reportedly circulated within journalists' WhatsApp groups, warning them not to publish “negative news that could affect the morale of the people,” an apparent attempt to suppress coverage of the protests.

During the massive anti-Hamas protests in Khan Yunis, Gaza, protesters declared: “We have two words to deliver—Hamas out, out.”

For the third day in a row—no media coverage, no headlines. Just thousands risking everything to speak out against Hamas.

We will be their voice. pic.twitter.com/K20X7rUb3H

— Ihab Hassan (@IhabHassane) May 21, 2025

 

Activists say the movement began with young people taking to the streets on Monday and rapidly grew as others joined while waiting for meals from community kitchens, still holding their cooking pots. The spontaneous nature of the protest reflects a deepening anger among the public, triggered in part by the resurfacing of comments made by senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri. In a podcast that originally aired in March, Zuhri declared the war with Israel to be “eternal,” and said, “We will rebuild the houses and produce dozens more babies for each martyr.”

 

 

That statement struck a nerve. In Khan Younis, protestors directed their fury at Hamas leaders, accusing them of exploiting civilian suffering. “To those with Hamas, be aware the people of Gaza will dig your grave,” one demonstrator said, while another accused Hamas of trading “blood for a dollar.”

 

While smaller protests have occurred in northern Gaza in recent months, Hamas’s dominance in the southern region has largely kept opposition in check—until now. The increasing unrest appears to signal a shift in public willingness to challenge the group despite the risks.

 

Those risks are stark. In March, 22-year-old Oday a-Rubai was abducted and tortured to death by armed gunmen after participating in anti-Hamas demonstrations in Gaza City. Other reports allege that dissenters have been beaten, shot, or even killed for speaking out against the group.

 

Still, the protests have not been without resistance. Alaa, a protester, recounted a tense moment as demonstrators neared Nasser hospital. “There was one man who wanted to pull out his gun, but his friend stopped him,” Alaa said. “They couldn’t do anything because they were outnumbered by the number of protesters.”

 

Moumen al-Natour, a lawyer, former political prisoner, and co-founder of the anti-Hamas protest movement We Want to Live, offered a blunt explanation for the growing unrest. “The fatigue, effort and cost of displacement is pushing people to revolt against Hamas who refuse to surrender and hand over their weapons,” he said.

 

 

The ongoing demonstrations suggest a growing resolve among Gaza’s civilians to speak out, despite the danger. As hardship deepens and hopes for a resolution remain distant, the voices challenging Hamas’s rule are becoming harder to silence.

 

Related Topics:

Abbas Condemns Hamas in Blistering Speech, Demands Hostage Release and Gaza Control

Gaza: Hamas releases statement labelling the demonstrators “collaborators” and “traitors”

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from BBC  2025-05-22