Palestinians protest Hamas in Gaza

Rare Public Show of Dissent

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CAIRO: Palestinians chanted against Hamas during anti-war protests in the Gaza Strip, witnesses said Wednesday, in a rare show of public anger against the militant group that has long repressed dissent and still rules the territory 17 months into the war with Israel.

Videos that appeared to be authentic showed hundreds of people taking part in a protest in the heavily destroyed northern town of Beit Lahiya on Tuesday. People held signs saying "Stop the war," "We refuse to die" and "The blood of our children is not cheap."

There were calls for more protests on Wednesday. At least one was held in the hard-hit Shijaiyah neighborhood of Gaza City, where dozens of men chanted "Out, out out! Hamas get out!"

"We are sick of the bombing, killing and displacement," said Ammar Hassan, who took part in the protest on Tuesday.

He said it started as an anti-war protest with a few dozen people but swelled to more than 2,000, with people chanting against Hamas.

"It's the only party we can affect," he said by phone. "Protests won't stop the (Israeli) occupation, but it can affect Hamas." The militant group has violently cracked down on previous protests.