Palestinians in Gaza protest against Hamas for second straight day

For a second straight day protests erupted across the Gaza Strip as thousands of Palestinians demanded an end to the war with Israel and voiced anger at Hamas leadership.

Demonstrations broke out in several areas on Wednesday, including Beit Lahia and Gaza City in the north and Khan Younis in the south, witnesses told dpa.

Many protesters openly denounced Hamas — a rare occurrence in the territory, where the Islamist group typically cracks down on dissent.

Much of the anger was directed at Hamas leaders living abroad.

Many demonstrators accused them of ignoring the suffering of Gazans, as much of the coastal strip lies in ruins after more than 17 months of war. While living conditions in Gaza are catastrophic, some senior Hamas figures are known to reside in luxury in places like Qatar.

On Tuesday, hundreds also gathered in Beit Lahia to demand an end to the fighting, with some calling for Hamas to step aside. Similar protests reportedly took place elsewhere in the Gaza Strip.

The war began after Hamas-led militants launched a deadly attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Since then, heavy fighting has displaced most of Gaza's 2 million residents, and many have lost multiple family members in the conflict.

Last week, Israel resumed large-scale military operations after ceasefire talks with Hamas collapsed.