Protests in Gaza against the Hamas regime
Hundreds of people have taken to the streets in the Gaza Strip to protest against Hamas rule and the harsh living conditions in the impoverished Palestinian enclave. The demonstrators, shouting slogans such as "we want to live", "shame" and "down with the regime", criticised the constant power cuts, as well as the lack of opportunities and jobs while burning Hamas flags. The massive protests, which took place at several points in Gaza, were repressed by security forces and ended with several arrests. Also, according to AP, local police destroyed the phones of some protesters.
9. Khan Younes downtown - Sigli junction
— Younis Tirawi | يونس (@ytirawi) July 30, 2023
Chants:
“The people want to overthrow the regime” pic.twitter.com/qFJK17UQcj
Such events are rare in the Gaza Strip due to the oppressive rule of Hamas, which rules the enclave with an iron fist, preventing any public demonstration or criticism of the authorities. The Islamist group took control of the territory in 2007, wresting it from the Palestinian Authority and provoking a blockade by Israel and Egypt that continues to this day.
Gaza |
— Younis Tirawi | يونس (@ytirawi) July 30, 2023
Clashes between Palestinian youth and Hamas security forces after arresting several youth from Barbakh area.
This comes after calls to take to the streets and protest the difficult situation in Gaza demanding better life conditions from the authorities. pic.twitter.com/lymkjyxccu
Despite the authorities' brutal response, new demonstrations have been called for 4 August. "We have resisted for years. We will not be silent about our right to the basic necessities of life. We will not be silent about lies and exploitation," says a group of activists under the name Al Virus Al Sakher. This association, which is in charge of organising the protests, is calling for solutions to the constant electricity and gas cuts and for measures to "satisfy the hunger of the Gazans".
These demonstrations came on the same day that Hamas and Fatah leaders met in Cairo with the aim of reconciling positions after years of division. However, the attempt at reconciliation between the Palestinian factions has again failed. The meeting held last weekend in the Egyptian capital ended without any agreement between the organisations of Mahmoud Abbas and Ismail Haniyeh. For its part, Palestinian Islamic Jihad chose not to attend the summit as a way of protesting against the arrests of some of its members by the Palestinian Authority.
Egypt has a key role as mediator between the Palestinian factions, as well as between Hamas and Israel. In addition to the important role of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan has also tried to push for reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas through a recent meeting organised in Ankara last week in preparation for the Cairo summit.
Despite the failure to reach a 'national unity' agreement, leaders of both groups have pledged to hold further meetings with the aim of overcoming differences. Some of the points where the factions differ relate to how to deal with Israel. While PA chairman Abbas proposes "peaceful popular resistance", Hamas leader Haniyeh supports "comprehensive resistance", including armed struggle.
Hamas calls for seizing "opportunities", referring to the political situation in Israel
During the meeting, Abbas also referred to the Hamas takeover of Gaza in 2007, which caused a rift between the two organisations. The PA leader called the Hamas takeover a "coup d'état", stressing that it caused "the abominable division of our cause and our people", according to The Jerusalem Post.
Haniyeh, for his part, focused on the armed struggle against Israel, highlighting the "achievements" made in recent years. The terrorist group's leader also called for "opportunities" to be seized, referring to Israel's internal division over judicial reform and tensions between Benjamin Netanyahu's government and Joe Biden's administration. Haniyeh also called on the Palestinian Authority to end the persecution of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad members.
This is not the first time that Israel's enemies have celebrated the current political situation in the country. After passing the first law of the controversial judicial reform and amid massive protests against it, the leader of the Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, praised Israel for being "on the road to demise". In recent weeks, tensions on the border between Israel and Lebanon have increased after the Lebanese organisation set up two tents on internationally recognised Israeli territory.
