Hamas did not officially comment on the protests, but some media outlets in Gaza, including those associated with the terror organization, published photos and videos from the events under the framing “demonstration for stopping the war” without mentioning the calls for the terror group’s downfall.

Protests are relatively rare events in Gaza, especially against Hamas, which has maintained an iron grip on the Strip since it ousted the Palestinian Authority from the territory nearly two decades ago.

While there have been more public statements by individuals in Gaza against Hamas rule since the war started, large-scale demonstrations against the group have been almost nonexistent.

The last documented protest in the Strip against Hamas took place in January 2024 when Palestinians in Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis called for:
1. an end to the war,
2. the end of the terror group’s rule over Gaza
3. and the release of the Israeli hostages.

Before the war, anti-Hamas protests were also relatively rare events, and were often suppressed violently by the terror group.

The figures are not independently verified and do not differentiate between combatants and civilians.

Israel said it had killed some 20,000 combatants in battle as of January and another 1,600 terrorists inside Israel on October 7 and has said it seeks to minimize civilian fatalities and stresses that Hamas uses Gaza’s civilians as human shields, fighting from civilian areas including homes, hospitals, schools and mosques.