Gaza City, March 26, 2025 – Hundreds of Palestinians took to the streets of Beit Lahia in northern Gaza on Tuesday, voicing their exhaustion and desperation as Israel’s military campaign intensifies following the collapse of a fragile ceasefire. Chanting slogans such as “Yes to peace, no to Hamas’ tyrannical rule” and “Enough of the war, enough of the destruction,” protesters called for an immediate end to the violence that has claimed over 50,000 lives since October 2023, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run Health Ministry.
The rare public demonstration against both Israel’s onslaught and Hamas’ governance marks a significant shift in sentiment among residents of the war-torn enclave. Videos circulating on social media showed young men marching through the rubble-strewn streets, waving signs and demanding relief from the relentless conflict that has reduced much of northern Gaza to ruins. “We want an end to the war,” one protester shouted, echoing a growing chorus of frustration as humanitarian conditions deteriorate.
Israel resumed its military operations in Gaza on March 18, following nearly two months of relative calm under a ceasefire brokered in January. The Israeli military has accused Hamas of rejecting a U.S.-proposed extension of the truce, while Hamas claims Israel abandoned the original agreement. Since the resumption of hostilities, hundreds of Palestinians have been killed, and thousands more displaced, with pre-dawn airstrikes on residential areas claiming at least 23 lives, including children, in the past 24 hours alone, local health officials report.
The protests come amid a dire humanitarian crisis. The United Nations has warned that no food, water, medicine, or fuel has entered Gaza in three weeks, pushing the region toward an “acute hunger crisis.” An estimated 70% of buildings in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed, and healthcare and sanitation systems have collapsed, leaving residents with little access to basic necessities. “Our voices must reach the world,” read a message shared online by protest organizers. “Gaza is not silent, and we will not accept being eradicated.”
The Israeli military has expanded its operations across northern and southern Gaza, issuing evacuation orders to tens of thousands of residents and encircling neighborhoods like Tal al-Sultan in Rafah. However, residents in Beit Lahia and other areas report receiving no prior warnings, forcing families to flee under fire with whatever they can carry. “They did not drop leaflets or give us time to leave,” said one displaced resident. “We are trapped between bombs and starvation.”
International reactions have been swift. A UN official described Israel’s assault as a “bloody stain on our collective consciousness,” while Egypt has proposed a new ceasefire plan involving a phased release of Israeli hostages in exchange for a full military withdrawal from Gaza. The proposal, backed by U.S. guarantees, awaits a response from both sides as violence escalates.
In Gaza, the protests were met with a harsh response from Hamas militants, some of whom were seen dispersing crowds with batons and gunfire. The militant group, which has controlled Gaza since 2007, has faced growing criticism from within for its handling of the war and the humanitarian crisis. “Hamas out!” chanted demonstrators, signaling a rare public challenge to the group’s authority.
As the death toll climbs and displacement surges, the calls for peace from northern Gaza underscore the mounting toll of a conflict that shows no signs of abating. With the international community urging de-escalation, the voices of ordinary Palestinians are growing louder, demanding an end to the suffering that has defined their lives for over 17 months.
