Anger and desperation at Israeli occupation main driver of protests

Israeli evacuation order forcibly displaces thousands of Palestinians from Rafah (Picture: Quds News Network)

Israel is escalating mass slaughter in Gaza yet again. It chose to target Palestinians during the holiday Eid al-Fitr last weekend.

The terror state killed at least a dozen in its latest bombardment. In Rafah and Khan Younis in Gaza, Israel murdered at least 35 people, and it continues to block any aid from entering Gaza in its weeks-long siege.

The latest bombardment came as the bodies of 15 medical workers, slaughtered in an earlier attack, were recovered in Rafah. Israel’s terror has created an explosion of anger in Gaza. Primarily in Khan Yunis and Beit Lahia, hundreds of Gazans have rallied daily in protests that began last week.

Western media initially described them as “anti-Hamas” protests, and Israeli forces declared they were clear calls for the resistance group to relinquish power. The reality was more contradictory. Organiser Saad told Al Jazeera news that they were triggered by recent Israeli eviction orders.

“The people’s demands stem from an unbearable reality—if ending the war requires Hamas to step aside, then so be it.

“Whether we agree or disagree with Hamas, they’re ultimately part of our people.”

Mahmoud al-Haj Ahmed, a doctor at Kamal Adwan Hospital, told the Middle Eastern Eye website, “We need humanitarian aid. We need border crossings to open. We need a dignified life.”

And protester Waseem Abdel Nabi said, “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.”

While some people in Gaza want Hamas to stand aside, many others came on to the streets to cheer them just weeks ago.

As Israeli-held prisoners were returned to Gaza, there was a huge outpouring of support for the resistance group.

Making concessions to Israel won’t improve life in Gaza. A further ceasefire seems unlikely, despite Egypt and Qatar putting forward a renewed proposal.

Hamas has agreed to release five Israeli hostages every week in return for a 50-day ceasefire.

But on Sunday, Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu again demanded that Hamas lay down its arms to “enable the implementation of the Trump plan”. Hamas has repeatedly said laying down arms is a “red line” it will not cross.

Israel is using bombs and starvation to pressure both the people and Hamas into agreeing to deal that will hand more power to the occupation.