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Gaza Protests Have Cracked the Barrier of Fear
(Washington Institute for Near East Policy) Neomi Neumann and Nikhil Samuel - Hamas holds a distinct military and organizational advantage over the protesters in Gaza and continues to control all civilian and economic institutions. Hamas has sought to curb expressions of support for the protesters on social media and limit media exposure of the marches - notably, with significant help from Qatar's Al Jazeera network, in contrast to major media outlets in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, which have covered the demonstrations heavily. Meanwhile, Hamas spokespeople are employing a carefully nuanced narrative to contain the situation - they have expressed understanding for the protesters' grievances while simultaneously questioning their motives and warning against external influences. Even if the demonstrations do not achieve the (currently unlikely) goal of undermining Hamas rule in Gaza, they have broken - or at least cracked - the barrier of fear surrounding the group. They also reflect emerging changes in Gaza's public discourse, with growing legitimacy accorded to those who advocate ending the war and challenging Hamas's image as the people's sole representative. Neomi Neumann is a visiting fellow at The Washington Institute and former head of research at the Israel Security Agency. Nikhil Samuel is a research assistant in the Institute's Program on Arab Politics.