More and more Palestinians are asking Hamas to leave power and put an end to the war with Israel, after almost two years of struggles. In contrast, the Palestinian Islamist group responds with extreme violence, executing the opponents of the Gaza Strip, according to activist groups, reports New York Post.
Moumen al-Natour, the co-founder of the “We want” movement in Gaza, said the opposition against Hamas was amplified from the terrorist attack on October 7, 2023, which triggered the war, the Palestinians protesting to ask for the end of the government of almost 20 years of the militant group.
“Previously there was a certain opposition to Hamas, but after the attack and the consequences that followed, more and more people in Gaza despise them,” Al-Natour told Fox News Digital.
Al-Natour, who is also the President of the Palestinian Youth for Development, said that the war returned public opinion against Hamas to Gaza, considering that almost the entire population of the enclave, by two million people, was relocated in the 21 months of struggles.
The public revolt towards Hamas was visible during the March -Mass protests, when hundreds of Palestinians went out to ask the Islamist group to put an end to the war.
However, the protests were short -lived after the failure of the negotiations on the cessation of fire and the resumption of the military campaign in Gaza, Hamas rejecting any agreement that favors a permanent peace with the Jewish state.
Since then, according to Al-Natour, Hamas has taken extreme measures to silence any opposition voice, the opponent being forced to hide to avoid torture and death.
“Hamas has recently published a video record that shows members of the Al-Qassam brigades executing people,” he told Fox with reference to Hamas's military wing.
“He has publicly threatened anyone who speaks against them, saying they will treat them as enemies,” he added. “I move from one place to another, hiding myself because I would not want to be killed or paralyzed.”
Mkhaimer Abusada, a Gaza original political analyst, who lives in Cairo, said more and more Palestinians are now asking for Hamas to accept a fire termination agreement and to include other local groups in negotiating terms.
“The negotiations exclusively with Hamas are not helpful,” he told Fox. “Those in Hamas do not care about death. They believe that if they die, they reach Paradise.”
Hamas pointed out that it was willing to give up control over the Gaza strip in exchange for the cessation of the war that ended the life of over 60,000 Palestinians, according to the Ministry of Health controlled by Hamas, which does not have separate figures for militants and civilians.
Hamas, however, is not willing to demilitize until the existence of a Palestinian state is ensured, a condition rejected by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Netanyahu said the war will continue until Hamas is eradicated, the demilitarized Gaza strip and a new branch of local leaders will be installed at the lead.
