Gaza protests prompted by Israeli evacuation orders, residents say

Crowds who took to the streets of Gaza this week were protesting against the ongoing war and to draw attention to their desperate situation, people who took part have told Middle East Eye.

Participants in the protests, which started in the northern city of Beit Lahia on Wednesday, also rejected their widely reported characterisation in western media and on social media as “anti-Hamas”.

They said instead that most had gathered in frustration and fear to call for an end to the war after Israel issued new evacuation orders for their neighbourhoods.

Many people were confused and scared and did not know where to go, witnesses said.

Others said that many of those on the streets were young people with nothing to do, and estimated that a few hundred people had taken part.

Some had expressed anger at Hamas and called for and end to Hamas's rule in Gaza, but the primary motivation was to protest against the Israeli army nearby, local residents said.

Ramiz Almasri, 33, told MEE he had been among the first people to demonstrate in Beit Lahia.

“The Israeli forces ordered a new evacuation in my neighbourhood, but I have no place to go. I came to demonstrate to express my anger and helplessness,” he said.

'I’m protesting to scream for help from Arab and non-Arab countries, from Europe, America, and anyone who has power'

- Samy Ryad, Gaza protester

Almasri told MEE that two of his brothers had been killed and his home destroyed by Israeli air strikes during the war, and he had faced starvation for a year.

He said he supported the release of the remaining Israeli captives and the withdrawal of Hamas from government in Gaza if it would help end the war.

“We all know that Israel doesn’t need a reason to kill us, but if Hamas stops ruling, they will have no excuse in front of the world.

“Gaza is like hell now, and we cannot bear more suffering.”

Samy Ryad, 34, who took part in a protest on Thursday in the Rimal neighbourhood of Gaza City, said he did not belong to any political faction but that everyone in Gaza faced the same enemy.

“I’m protesting to scream for help from Arab and non-Arab countries, from Europe, America, and anyone who has power,” he said.

“We, in Gaza, have been dying every day for over 15 months, while the world hasn’t taken any action to stop Israel. We are protesting to send a message that we have lost everything. We want to have our right to live in peace.”

Tribal leaders call for unity

Meanwhile, representatives of Gaza’s tribes have denied claims that they had encouraged protests against Hamas, and accused agitators of spreading “false and incorrect” information.

In a statement, the National Assembly of Palestinian Tribes, Clans and Families said: “We affirm that [the National Assembly] has not and will not issue any statements attacking our free people.”

It called for unity among Palestinians against Israel’s assault on the enclave and warned people against joining protests that would serve as “an aid to the occupation and its supporters”.

'Hamas is one of the reasons for the outbreak of the war, but it is not the primary reason. The main reason is the Israeli occupation'

- Waseem Abdel Nabi, Gaza resident

“We categorically reject all suspicious and inciteful calls that advocate for opposing the resistance under any pretext,” it said.

While there had been some calls, amplified on social media, for further demonstrations elsewhere in Gaza, these had largely fallen flat because many people were wary that continuing protests would serve Israel’s agenda, local sources told MEE.

Waseem Abdel Nabi, who runs a clothes stall in Rimal neighbourhood, said he had passed by protesters who were complaining about the economic situation.

Although he said he had not participated, he told MEE he shared the protesters’ grievances.

“They want a decent life, they want food, they want security and to return to education. There is no food, no security, and no one sleeps in peace or comfort,” he said.

Nabi said he would support Hamas handing over power in Gaza if that was the price for ending the war and Israel’s withdrawal from the enclave.

“Hamas is one of the reasons for the outbreak of the war, but it is not the primary reason. The main reason is the Israeli occupation,” he said.

“My message to the world is to look at us with compassion and try to pressure Israel to withdraw from Gaza so that the citizens can return to their homes and try to rebuild what was destroyed.”