Overview

• Protests, initially sparked in Beit Lahia, have spread to Gaza City, Khan Younis, and other areas, marking the largest dissent against Hamas in 18 years of its rule.
• Demonstrators are voicing frustration over war fatigue, displacement, and severe humanitarian conditions, with some explicitly calling for Hamas to relinquish power.
• Hamas has responded by framing the protests as anti-war rather than anti-Hamas, while also issuing threats against protest leaders and dispersing gatherings in some areas.
• Israeli officials, including Defense Minister Israel Katz, have publicly encouraged Gazans to rise against Hamas, portraying it as a pathway to ending the conflict.
• The protests underscore the desperation of Gazans as they endure ongoing violence, displacement, and shortages of basic necessities amidst a renewed Israeli military offensive.