Gazans take to the streets to tell Hamas to let militants know who the real enemy is

The astonishing street protests in Gaza, which have grown in size to thousands over successive days, will hurt the terror group more than any Israeli bomb ever could.

Thousands of Gazans are protesting against Hamas.

The astonishing street protests against Hamas in Gaza by thousands of brave Palestinians will hurt the terror group more than any Israeli bomb ever could.

The protests which have grown in size over successive days speak to the central truth – which so many anti-Israeli activists in Australia cannot admit – that Hamas is the true enemy of the Palestinians in Gaza.

The fact that protests of this size are unfolding among a population which once elected Hamas as their rulers says much about how many Gazans now recognise that the terror group has jeopardised their lives and their future by its ongoing conflict with Israel.

It remains to be seen if these protests, which are so far limited in size, flourish into a broader public movement which would make it difficult, if not impossible, for Hamas to remain in power.

This would be the single best outcome for the future of Gaza during the 17 month conflict because peace can only come to the enclave once Hamas has given up military and administrative power.

But the fact that thousands of Palestinians have the courage to take to the streets to label Hamas as terrorists and demand that they should leave Gaza, shows the depth of their anger and desperation.

The last time Gazans protested against Hamas in 2019 over worsening economic conditions, Hamas rounded up the protesters, subjecting them to beatings, detentions and torture.

Many of those taking to the streets now are risking the same fate but the number of protesters is so large that Hamas, at least for now, is laying low. The terror group no longer has the iron grip it once held over the population, having had its leadership and numbers decimated by the war.

The failure of Hamas’ campaign against Israel, beginning with the October 7 massacre, is plain for every Gazan to see. Some 40,000 people have been killed, massive swathes of the enclave have been destroyed, food is scarce and uncertainty prevails.

Hamas could have ended this war at any time by releasing the remaining Israeli hostages but it has refused to do so. Instead it has used ordinary Palestinians as human shields, choosing to place command and control centres in tunnels under schools and hospitals, ensuring maximum civilian casualties and international condemnation of Israeli attacks.

Israel’s latest assault on Gaza last week, after Hamas refused to extend the ceasefire and release more hostages, have robbed Gazans of the brief few weeks of relative normality where they could safely return to their homes with the resumption of food and humanitarian aid. But Hamas’ ongoing refusal to release the hostages and give up administrative control has led to the renewed Israeli attacks, ending the brief respite of the Palestinians. It is this frustration with the never-ending cycle of violence which appears to have sparked these street protests.

The ceasefire deal is at an impasse with Israel refusing to proceed to the second stage because it does not want to withdraw its military from Gaza while Hamas remains in control.

Unless Hamas gives ground soon, Israel looks likely to order a ground invasion to take and hold territory in a final attempt to dislodge a weakened but persistent Hamas from power. But this campaign would see yet another tragedy unfold for ordinary Gazans as civilians would once again become collateral damage in the battle. The message which the protesters are sending Hamas is clear – you have done enough damage to our lives, our homes and our future. Give up power and leave Gaza. Hamas will almost certainly not listen. It is too stubborn, callous and power hungry to release the hostages and seek peace without being forced to. But the fact that its critics, this time, are ordinary Palestinians on the streets of Gaza, will wound Hamas to its core.