{"id":11527,"date":"2025-03-26T23:20:52","date_gmt":"2025-03-27T03:20:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/miami\/?p=11527"},"modified":"2025-03-26T23:20:52","modified_gmt":"2025-03-27T03:20:52","slug":"gaza-resident-explains-motivations-for-joining-anti-hamas-protests","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/miami\/2025\/03\/26\/gaza-resident-explains-motivations-for-joining-anti-hamas-protests\/","title":{"rendered":"Gaza Resident Explains Motivations For Joining Anti-Hamas Protests"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction to the Protests<\/h2>\n

For the second consecutive day, there have been mass, anti-Hamas demonstrations in Gaza. The videos are all over social media, showing ordinary civilians marching and chanting that they want peace, that Hamas is a terrorist group, and that Hamas should surrender.
\n
\nSaeed is one of those protesters in Gaza.<\/p>\n

The Fear of Speaking Out<\/h2>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s absolutely afraid, all the people are afraid of speaking out against Hamas, but as you see today, things are better than before because people are daring to speak up and a lot of people are speaking up,\u201d said translator Hadeel Oueis from the Center for Peace Communications. \u201cBecause Hamas is using the people of Gaza as human shields, as tools to achieve its political goals.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Demands of the Protesters<\/h2>\n

Saeed spoke to us via Zoom, with Oueis translating his remarks and my questions. I asked him if the demonstrators were demanding that Hamas release the hostages, because that would end the war quickly. \u201cThey are calling not only for the release of the hostages, but also for Hamas to get out of Gaza as a military group because this the Israelis\u2019 demand that would stop the war, and they are for everything that would stop the war,\u201d Saeed said through Oueis.<\/p>\n

Translating the Chants<\/h2>\n

IDF paratrooper Joe Brikman speaks Arabic. We asked him to translate some of the chanting from the protest videos. \u201cAll we want is peace, we want peace,\u201d Brikman described one of the videos. In another video clip, there are thousands of Gazans marching down a street. \u201cIt is a lot of people, they\u2019re all screaming the same thing,\u201d Brikman said. \u201cFree Gaza from Hamas.\u201d<\/p>\n

A Reservist’s Perspective<\/h2>\n

Brikman lives in South Florida, but as a reservist, he went back to Israel and served 44 days in Gaza combat. Brikman lost friends and colleagues in the fighting, and knowing that many civilians from Gaza joined the Hamas murder and kidnapping spree on Oct. 7, he\u2019s hopeful but reserving judgment on the anti-Hamas demonstrations. \u201cIf you look at everything that\u2019s been happening building up to this, there\u2019s been a lot of support until it\u2019s not cool to support anymore,\u201d Brikman said.<\/p>\n

The Reality on the Ground<\/h2>\n

\u201cOf course, we wish that we go back to Oct. 6, and Oct. 7 wouldn\u2019t have happened at all,\u201d Saeed said through his translator. \u201cBut it happened, unfortunately, and although life in Gaza was not easy before Oct. 7 but it was perfectly better than what we are living today.\u201d Brikman said he feels tremendous sympathy for people like Saeed who are stuck in the middle in Gaza. \u201cWe have to take a moment and we have to critically analyze exactly what\u2019s happening, I\u2019m hurting, Israel\u2019s hurting, Gaza is hurting, everyone\u2019s hurting, there is no winner in this war,\u201d Brikman said.<\/p>\n

A Glimmer of Hope<\/h2>\n

Saeed told us the people of Gaza feel empowered now, and there\u2019s hope that with enough internal pressure from the demonstrations, Hamas can be toppled.<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n

The protests in Gaza against Hamas mark a significant shift in the dynamics of the conflict. As more people dare to speak out against the militant group, there is a growing sense of hope that a peaceful resolution might be possible. However, the path forward is fraught with challenges, and it remains to be seen whether these protests will lead to meaningful change.<\/p>\n

FAQs<\/h2>\n