'They’re gambling with our lives': A Look into the Historic Rebellion Against Hamas in Gaza
<b>Protests in the Strip Reveal Deep Resentment Towards the Group’s Mismanagement and Corruption</b> For the first time in nearly two decades, the residents of Gaza are voicing their discontent not only against Israel but also against Hamas....
TroibNews 
Protests in the Strip Reveal Deep Resentment Towards the Group’s Mismanagement and Corruption
For the first time in nearly two decades, the residents of Gaza are voicing their discontent not only against Israel but also against Hamas. In an unprecedented wave of protests in Beit Lahia, Khan Younis, Deir al-Balah, and Rafah, hundreds have taken to the streets demanding an end to Hamas’ governance, the restoration of their rights, and a future devoid of war and oppression. However, with the increase in demonstrations, there is also a corresponding crackdown from Hamas. The question remains: can this movement endure, or will Hamas quell it once more?
Why They Rise
The protests, which began in late March 2025, mark the largest grassroots challenge to Hamas since it assumed control in 2007. Demonstrators are calling for freedom, the termination of Hamas’ regime, and liberation from the weight of war, poverty, and fear.
“We can’t live like this anymore,” expressed Mohammad, a resident of Nuseirat who wishes to remain anonymous for safety. “People are drowning in darkness, oppression, and sorrow. We’re exhausted by Hamas dragging us into death and destruction while they live comfortably.”
Since Hamas’ takeover in 2007, conditions in Gaza have deteriorated significantly—not just due to the Israeli blockade imposed in response to Hamas’ terrorism designation. Between 2007 and 2023, Gaza’s GDP per capita plummeted by 54%, reaching levels unseen since 1994. Unemployment surged from 40% in 2007 to an astonishing 80% by 2024, with poverty escalating to 65% by 2022. The war that erupted in 2023 only exacerbated the crisis.
However, the unrest is not solely driven by economic hardship. Hamas has maintained a firm grip on Gaza for nearly two decades, suppressing dissent and silencing opposition. Now, frustration has reached a breaking point. Protesters articulate clear demands: the end of Hamas’ rule, the restoration of basic human rights, and living free from the looming threat of war.
Years of Frustration
Though these demonstrations are unprecedented in scale, they are not Gaza’s first attempt to challenge Hamas. Previous movements, such as Bidna Na’ish in 2011 and 2015, primarily sought economic reform and political freedom. Each time, Hamas swiftly retaliated with violent crackdowns, arrests, and intimidation.
This current wave feels different. “Hamas’ police are everywhere, but people aren’t backing down,” stated Mohammad. “They know arrests and violence are inevitable, but we have nothing left to lose.”
Unlike earlier protests, which were focused mainly on economic grievances, today’s demonstrations explicitly challenge Hamas’ political authority. Protesters are not only asking for improved living standards; they are demanding the complete removal of Hamas from power. Notably, they are placing blame on Hamas, alongside Israel, for Gaza’s devastation.
Gaza has endured multiple conflicts, but the destruction since October 7, 2023, has pushed it to the brink of collapse. Following Hamas’ attack on Israel, the Israeli military response has resulted in widespread devastation.
Recent UN estimates indicate that 80% of buildings in northern Gaza are damaged or destroyed, 97% of the population lacks consistent access to clean water, and rates of child malnutrition have doubled. Essential infrastructure is in ruins: roads are in rubble, hospitals barely function, and power outages are frequent.
“Of course, Israel is bombing us and killing our children, but who brought this upon us?” questioned Mustafa, another Gazan who spoke anonymously due to fear of retribution.
“When they [Hamas] planned the attack on Israel, didn’t they think what the outcome might be? Did they really think Israel would swallow it? It was obvious that they would wreck havoc on us, so why did the leadership put us in this position in the first place?” he lamented.
Mustafa’s frustration with Hamas is compounded by what he perceives as their indifference to Palestinian suffering. “Entire neighborhoods have no food or water, especially since humanitarian aid stopped flowing,” he claimed. “Meanwhile, Hamas leaders sit comfortably, stockpiling supplies. They’re not suffering like we are.”
After Israel resumed ground operations in Gaza, border crossings closed again, blocking humanitarian aid as occurred at the war’s onset. Even when assistance was available, there are reports that Hamas and its allies diverted significant portions, leaving ordinary Palestinians hungry and desperate. This systemic corruption has intensified resentment, with Gazans increasingly outraged at both Hamas’ greed and mismanagement, as well as Israel’s blockade.
Enough is Enough?
For years, Hamas justified its authoritarian rule as a necessary resistance for Palestinian freedom. However, after enduring endless cycles of violence, many Gazans now reject this narrative.
“For years, they told us resistance would bring dignity,” said Mustafa. “But what has it brought? Hunger, death, and endless war. Hamas is fighting for Iran’s interests, not for us.”
Hamas’ ties with Iran and other Islamist movements have become increasingly contentious. Protesters accuse Hamas of jeopardizing Gaza’s future by prioritizing foreign agendas. “They’re gambling with our lives,” remarked Mohammad. “We’re not pawns in their geopolitical games.”
Hamas is clearly unsettled by the protests. As demonstrations have intensified, the group has arrested dozens of activists and ordinary citizens, accusing them of collaborating with Israel or Fatah, its main political rival. Telegram channels linked to Israel and Fatah allege that Hamas has executed at least six Gazans suspected of organizing protests, although these claims have not been independently verified.
Hamas asserts that reports about the group punishing protest participants lack evidence. “We believe in the right of our people to raise their voices; those who took to the streets represent less than 1-2% of the population, and we are in hourly contact with the people to discuss a way out,” the group stated.
Despite reports of torture and severe measures that have understandably frightened many, Mohammad remains steadfast. “Hamas can use force to silence us,” he proclaimed, “but they can’t erase our anger. The harder they repress us, the stronger we’ll become.”
Mustafa echoed this sentiment: “Hamas knows that if these protests succeed, their rule is finished. That’s why they’re desperate to crush them—and exactly why we’re determined to persist. Enough is enough.”
Hamas' Responses
RT reached out to a senior Hamas official for comment. The group issued a statement recognizing the pain felt by Gaza’s residents while emphasizing the importance of unity among Palestinians.
“It is the legitimate right of everybody to cry out in pain and to raise their voices loudly against the aggression targeting our people and the disappointment we face from our nation,” the statement read. “Our people, with all their factions—whether those who have taken to the streets or those who have not—are united; we are part of them, and they are part of us.”
However, Hamas condemned what it described as the manipulation of Gaza’s humanitarian tragedy for political gain, diverting attention from the true perpetrator—the Israeli occupation and its military.
Addressing its critics directly, Hamas questioned: “To those in Ramallah pursuing such questionable agendas, we ask: Where are you when it comes to the ongoing killings, displacement, destruction, and annexation taking place daily in the West Bank? Why do you not mobilize against this aggression, or at least allow the people there to take to the streets and voice their rejection of these crimes?”
Hamas also claimed to have upheld its commitments under a deal reached with Israel aimed at halting the war. “We have signed a deal with the Israelis, with the main goal to stop the war on our people, and we have fulfilled all our obligations accordingly,” Hamas noted. “Yet, supported by the Americans, the Israelis have breached the deal and launched the war again. Despite this, we remain committed to the deal and have accepted the proposals presented to us by the mediators.”
Mathilde Moreau for TROIB News
For the first time in nearly two decades, the residents of Gaza are voicing their discontent not only against Israel but also against Hamas. In an unprecedented wave of protests in Beit Lahia, Khan Younis, Deir al-Balah, and Rafah, hundreds have taken to the streets demanding an end to Hamas’ governance, the restoration of their rights, and a future devoid of war and oppression. However, with the increase in demonstrations, there is also a corresponding crackdown from Hamas. The question remains: can this movement endure, or will Hamas quell it once more?
Why They Rise
The protests, which began in late March 2025, mark the largest grassroots challenge to Hamas since it assumed control in 2007. Demonstrators are calling for freedom, the termination of Hamas’ regime, and liberation from the weight of war, poverty, and fear.
“We can’t live like this anymore,” expressed Mohammad, a resident of Nuseirat who wishes to remain anonymous for safety. “People are drowning in darkness, oppression, and sorrow. We’re exhausted by Hamas dragging us into death and destruction while they live comfortably.”
Since Hamas’ takeover in 2007, conditions in Gaza have deteriorated significantly—not just due to the Israeli blockade imposed in response to Hamas’ terrorism designation. Between 2007 and 2023, Gaza’s GDP per capita plummeted by 54%, reaching levels unseen since 1994. Unemployment surged from 40% in 2007 to an astonishing 80% by 2024, with poverty escalating to 65% by 2022. The war that erupted in 2023 only exacerbated the crisis.
However, the unrest is not solely driven by economic hardship. Hamas has maintained a firm grip on Gaza for nearly two decades, suppressing dissent and silencing opposition. Now, frustration has reached a breaking point. Protesters articulate clear demands: the end of Hamas’ rule, the restoration of basic human rights, and living free from the looming threat of war.
Years of Frustration
Though these demonstrations are unprecedented in scale, they are not Gaza’s first attempt to challenge Hamas. Previous movements, such as Bidna Na’ish in 2011 and 2015, primarily sought economic reform and political freedom. Each time, Hamas swiftly retaliated with violent crackdowns, arrests, and intimidation.
This current wave feels different. “Hamas’ police are everywhere, but people aren’t backing down,” stated Mohammad. “They know arrests and violence are inevitable, but we have nothing left to lose.”
Unlike earlier protests, which were focused mainly on economic grievances, today’s demonstrations explicitly challenge Hamas’ political authority. Protesters are not only asking for improved living standards; they are demanding the complete removal of Hamas from power. Notably, they are placing blame on Hamas, alongside Israel, for Gaza’s devastation.
Gaza has endured multiple conflicts, but the destruction since October 7, 2023, has pushed it to the brink of collapse. Following Hamas’ attack on Israel, the Israeli military response has resulted in widespread devastation.
Recent UN estimates indicate that 80% of buildings in northern Gaza are damaged or destroyed, 97% of the population lacks consistent access to clean water, and rates of child malnutrition have doubled. Essential infrastructure is in ruins: roads are in rubble, hospitals barely function, and power outages are frequent.
“Of course, Israel is bombing us and killing our children, but who brought this upon us?” questioned Mustafa, another Gazan who spoke anonymously due to fear of retribution.
“When they [Hamas] planned the attack on Israel, didn’t they think what the outcome might be? Did they really think Israel would swallow it? It was obvious that they would wreck havoc on us, so why did the leadership put us in this position in the first place?” he lamented.
Mustafa’s frustration with Hamas is compounded by what he perceives as their indifference to Palestinian suffering. “Entire neighborhoods have no food or water, especially since humanitarian aid stopped flowing,” he claimed. “Meanwhile, Hamas leaders sit comfortably, stockpiling supplies. They’re not suffering like we are.”
After Israel resumed ground operations in Gaza, border crossings closed again, blocking humanitarian aid as occurred at the war’s onset. Even when assistance was available, there are reports that Hamas and its allies diverted significant portions, leaving ordinary Palestinians hungry and desperate. This systemic corruption has intensified resentment, with Gazans increasingly outraged at both Hamas’ greed and mismanagement, as well as Israel’s blockade.
Enough is Enough?
For years, Hamas justified its authoritarian rule as a necessary resistance for Palestinian freedom. However, after enduring endless cycles of violence, many Gazans now reject this narrative.
“For years, they told us resistance would bring dignity,” said Mustafa. “But what has it brought? Hunger, death, and endless war. Hamas is fighting for Iran’s interests, not for us.”
Hamas’ ties with Iran and other Islamist movements have become increasingly contentious. Protesters accuse Hamas of jeopardizing Gaza’s future by prioritizing foreign agendas. “They’re gambling with our lives,” remarked Mohammad. “We’re not pawns in their geopolitical games.”
Hamas is clearly unsettled by the protests. As demonstrations have intensified, the group has arrested dozens of activists and ordinary citizens, accusing them of collaborating with Israel or Fatah, its main political rival. Telegram channels linked to Israel and Fatah allege that Hamas has executed at least six Gazans suspected of organizing protests, although these claims have not been independently verified.
Hamas asserts that reports about the group punishing protest participants lack evidence. “We believe in the right of our people to raise their voices; those who took to the streets represent less than 1-2% of the population, and we are in hourly contact with the people to discuss a way out,” the group stated.
Despite reports of torture and severe measures that have understandably frightened many, Mohammad remains steadfast. “Hamas can use force to silence us,” he proclaimed, “but they can’t erase our anger. The harder they repress us, the stronger we’ll become.”
Mustafa echoed this sentiment: “Hamas knows that if these protests succeed, their rule is finished. That’s why they’re desperate to crush them—and exactly why we’re determined to persist. Enough is enough.”
Hamas' Responses
RT reached out to a senior Hamas official for comment. The group issued a statement recognizing the pain felt by Gaza’s residents while emphasizing the importance of unity among Palestinians.
“It is the legitimate right of everybody to cry out in pain and to raise their voices loudly against the aggression targeting our people and the disappointment we face from our nation,” the statement read. “Our people, with all their factions—whether those who have taken to the streets or those who have not—are united; we are part of them, and they are part of us.”
However, Hamas condemned what it described as the manipulation of Gaza’s humanitarian tragedy for political gain, diverting attention from the true perpetrator—the Israeli occupation and its military.
Addressing its critics directly, Hamas questioned: “To those in Ramallah pursuing such questionable agendas, we ask: Where are you when it comes to the ongoing killings, displacement, destruction, and annexation taking place daily in the West Bank? Why do you not mobilize against this aggression, or at least allow the people there to take to the streets and voice their rejection of these crimes?”
Hamas also claimed to have upheld its commitments under a deal reached with Israel aimed at halting the war. “We have signed a deal with the Israelis, with the main goal to stop the war on our people, and we have fulfilled all our obligations accordingly,” Hamas noted. “Yet, supported by the Americans, the Israelis have breached the deal and launched the war again. Despite this, we remain committed to the deal and have accepted the proposals presented to us by the mediators.”
Mathilde Moreau for TROIB News
