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Hamas Faces Growing Public Dissent as Gaza War Erodes Support

(BBC) Lucy Williamson - Open criticism of Hamas has been growing in Gaza, both on the streets and online. Gaza residents have told the BBC that swearing and cursing against the Hamas leadership is now common in the markets, and that some drivers of donkey carts have even nicknamed their animals after the Hamas leader in Gaza - Yahya Sinwar. "People say things like, 'Hamas has destroyed us' or even call on God to take their lives," one man said. "They ask what the 7 October attacks were for - some say they were a gift to Israel." There are still those in Gaza fiercely loyal to Hamas. But a senior Hamas official privately acknowledged to the BBC, months ago, that they were losing support as a result of the war. One senior Hamas government employee told the BBC that the Hamas attacks were "a crazy, uncalculated leap." "The Hamas government...prepared well for the attack militarily, but it neglected the home front. They did not build any safe shelters for people, they did not reserve enough food, fuel and medical supplies. If my family and I survive this war, I will leave Gaza, the first chance I get." "In Gaza, most people criticize what Hamas has done," said Ameen Abed, a political activist, who had been arrested many times for speaking out against Hamas before the war. "They see children living in tents, and insulting their leaders has become routine. But it has a lot of support among those outside Gaza's border, who are sitting under air conditioners in their comfortable homes, who have not lost a child, a home, a future, a leg." Fear of criticizing Gaza's leaders might have lessened, but it hasn't gone. One well-placed source told the BBC that dozens of people had been killed by Hamas in bloody score-settling with other local groups, after Israeli troops withdrew from one area.
2024-07-07 00:00:00
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