Kochi: Frustrated by the unending war, a massive number of Gaza residents took to the streets seeking the exit of Hamas from power in Northern Gaza for restoring peace in the region, BBC reported.
Hamas militants in masks dispersed the protesters by assaulting several of them who marched in Beit Lahia on Tuesday, chanting “out, out, out, Hamas out”.
Pro-Hamas supporters called the protesters as traitors while Hamas has not reacted.
The protests started a day after Islamic gunmen attacked Israel which retaliated by evacuating large parts of Beit Lahia.
Israel resumed its attack in Gaza after a couple of months of ceasefire reached this year accusing Hamas of dishonouring the US proposal to extend the truce while Hamas blamed Israel abandoning the deal reached in January.
Hundreds of Palestinians have perished and thousands displaced after Israel resumed air strikes on March 18.
Hamas has ruled Gaza since 2007 after winning Palestinian elections. Israel’s attack in Gaza has killed over 50,000 Palestinians, the Hamas-run health ministry said.
Most of the people in Gaza, having a population of 2.1 million, have also been displaced. About 70% of buildings have been damaged in Gaza. The healthcare, water and sanitation systems are out of gear and there are shortages of food, fuel, medicine and shelter.
The 15th war between Israel and Hamas began on 7 October, 2023 when Hamas attacked Israel killing 1,195 people and taking 251 people hostage.
Israel invaded Gaza on 27, October for destroying Hamas and freeing the hostages.
It was the 15th war since the conflict began in 1948, when about two lakh Palestinians migrated to Gaza to take asylum in the Gaza Strip as refugees.
A ceasefire agreement was signed between Israel and Hamas with both agreeing to exchange hostages-and-prisoners leading to truce from 19 January to 18 March 2025.
Following Hamas’s refusal to accept the US ceasefire extension proposal, Israel ceased the entry of aid to Gaza on 2 March, 2025.
The aid blockade was condemned by mediators Egypt and Qatar, as well as the United Nations, as a violation of the ceasefire, which stipulated that phase one would automatically be extended as long as phase two negotiations were in progress.
On 9 March, Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen ordered to halt supply of Israeli electricity to Gaza. On 14 March, Hamas said that it agreed to a proposal from mediators to release Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander and the bodies of four dual national hostages which was rejected by Israel and the United States.
Israel launched surprise airstrikes on Gaza
on 18 March, 2025. Netanyahu declared that Israel has “resumed combat in full force” against Hamas in Gaza.
Photo: X
