Gazans Speak Out Against Hamas: A Platform for Change Amid Growing Discontent

As the war in Gaza continues, many residents are risking their safety to voice their frustrations with life under Hamas and express their hopes for a different future. A Sunday report by The Sunday Times reveals how Gazans, facing oppression and violence, are turning to online platforms to share their stories and challenges.

One such platform, Ekhteyar (Arabic for “choice”), was launched in August by Yasir and his friend Badr. The anonymous online space has provided over 100 Gazans with a safe outlet to express their opinions on the current situation. Yasir shared his frustration at the lack of global understanding of ordinary Gazans’ perspectives, questioning why others always speak for them.

As Gaza grapples with the fallout from the ongoing conflict, many residents have become increasingly disillusioned with Hamas, which has ruled the territory since 2007. According to polling cited in The Sunday Times report, support for Hamas has plummeted to just 35%, with only 7% of Gazans wanting Hamas to continue governing after the war.

One of the platform's contributors expressed the desire for leaders whose love for Palestine surpasses their hatred for the occupation. Criticism of Hamas's military tactics is growing, with some arguing that “strength should be measured by the cost of conflict, not the range of rockets.” This sentiment reflects a growing dissatisfaction with the cost of the war and the humanitarian toll it has taken on Gaza’s civilian population.

Criticism of Hamas does not come without risks. Several individuals interviewed for the Times report recounted how they faced threats after posting dissenting views on social media. Yasir himself received a warning from Hamas's electronic crimes unit, urging him to stop posting comments on Facebook. Others have faced harsher consequences, including physical abuse and imprisonment for expressing opposition to Hamas's rule.

Hamza Hawidy, now living in Germany, recounted his experience of being detained and beaten by Hamas for protesting their policies. "The human rights organizations turned a blind eye," he said, adding that he saw no other choice but to leave Gaza after being arrested twice.

A Hope for a Better Future

Despite mounting criticism of Hamas, many Gazans emphasized that their discontent does not equate to support for Israel's actions. Yasir and Badr criticized international activists who, according to them, manipulate Gaza's narrative to suit their own ideological battles. They argue that these activists ignore the humanity of Gazans, reducing their suffering to a spectacle for global consumption.

The experiences shared by these Gazans highlight the deep impact of Hamas's rule, which many initially supported as a more effective alternative to Fatah. However, the violent takeover of Gaza in 2007 marked a turning point, and since then, elections have been postponed indefinitely, leaving the population with little hope for political change.

Many of the people interviewed by The Sunday Times share the same aspiration: to live with dignity, free from fear and oppression. “Our dream is not to die for a cause but to live with dignity,” said Badr, encapsulating the hopes of many Gazans for a future shaped by their own voices and aspirations.