Frustration with Hamas boiled over into rare public dissent on Tuesday, March 25, as hundreds of Palestinians, predominantly men, took to the streets of northern Gaza chanting “Out, out, out, Hamas out” and “Hamas terrorists.”

Videos and photos circulating on social media captured the protests in Beit Lahiya, reflecting mounting anger over the group’s handling of the ongoing war with Israel, now in its 17th month since the October 7, 2023, attack that killed 1,200 Israelis and abducted 251.

The demonstrators, risking reprisals from Hamas’s security forces, voiced demands for an end to the conflict that has claimed over 50,000 lives, according to Gaza’s health ministry, and left the enclave in ruins. Some carried white flags symbolizing a plea for peace, while others directly blamed Hamas for prolonging the war rather than negotiating a ceasefire to free remaining hostages.

“We want to live,” a familiar slogan from past anti-Hamas rallies, rang out alongside calls to “stop the bloodshed,” highlighting the dire humanitarian crisis—exacerbated by halted aid deliveries and widespread hunger.

Hamas, which has ruled Gaza since 2007, reportedly hesitated to deploy large forces to suppress the unrest, possibly fearing Israeli strikes on its gunmen. The protests follow Israel’s resumed bombardment last week after a collapsed two-month truce, intensifying local discontent.

While Hamas retains support for resisting Israel, as one resident, Ahmed al-Masri, told reporters, “We want to continue until Hamas leaves the Palestinian scene,” the scenes underscore a growing divide. With no immediate response from Hamas leadership—many of whom reside abroad—the demonstrations signal a rare challenge to their authority amid an unrelenting war.