Palestinians demanding an end to the Israel-Gaza war chant anti-Hamas slogans in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza Strip on March 25, 2025. Reuters
Palestinians demanding an end to the Israel-Gaza war chant anti-Hamas slogans in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza Strip on March 25, 2025. Reuters
Palestinians demanding an end to the Israel-Gaza war chant anti-Hamas slogans in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza Strip on March 25, 2025. Reuters
Palestinians demanding an end to the Israel-Gaza war chant anti-Hamas slogans in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza Strip on March 25, 2025. Reuters

Anti-Hamas protests in northern Gaza call for end to war with Israel


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Protests calling for the removal of Hamas and an end to the war with Israel started in Gaza on Tuesday, sparked by a set of “provocative” statements from the group's officials, experts said.

Hundreds of people were seen chanting slogans in Beit Lahia in the territory's north, calling for the end of the war and for Hamas's rule to end. Placards read “Stop the war”, “We refuse to die”, and “The blood of our children is not cheap”, according to video purported to be of the protests posted on social media.

Social media campaigners and tribal leaders had urged residents to join the protests, which have divided Gaza’s population. While some support the demonstrations as a call to end the war, others oppose them, arguing that they could fuel internal discord.

Saber Matter, a 40-year-old resident who lost both his home and office in the war, expressed his frustration over the conflict.

“I support people speaking out and demanding an end to the war – this challenges the occupation’s narrative that all Gazans are armed militants seeking conflict,” he told The National.

However, he warned against protests that could widen internal divisions. “I do not support demonstrations that create rifts among our people. Disunity only weakens us,” he added.

Slogans in Arabic reading 'Enough killing and destruction' and 'The children of Palestine: We want to live' on display in Beit Lahia during a rally calling for an end to the war on March 25, 2025. Hundreds chanted anti-Hamas slogans at the protest, witnesses said. AFP
Slogans in Arabic reading 'Enough killing and destruction' and 'The children of Palestine: We want to live' on display in Beit Lahia during a rally calling for an end to the war on March 25, 2025. Hundreds chanted anti-Hamas slogans at the protest, witnesses said. AFP

Gaza has not held elections since the political wing of Hamas was elected in 2006. Divisions between the group and the Palestinian Authority, led by political party Fatah, made Hamas the only authority with power in the strip.

The protests, which photos showed hundreds attending, came two weeks into renewed Israeli bombing and ground campaigns after the first phase of a ceasefire enacted on January 19 expired in March.

Israel has threatened to continue the operation until Hamas returns the 59 hostages it still holds. More than 700 Palestinians have been killed since Israel restarted its lethal attacks.

Independent Palestinian analyst Ahmed Bassiouni said some protesters are being criticised for the demonstrations, despite previously also standing up against Israel and refusing to leave their homes in the north under Israeli eviction orders.

“They stood steadfastly against them, hailing those people heroes,” Mr Bassiouni, who left Gaza two weeks before the start of the war, said. “Now, because they're standing against Hamas, suddenly they're being labelled spies and agents of the occupation,” he said.

The protests took place after a set of pointed statements by Hamas leaders and officials.

At a public gathering, the son of Hamas leader Osama Hamdan, Youssef, who lives in Algeria, said the group “does not have a white cloth to raise a flag of surrender, but only white cloths to shroud [our] children”.

“Messages like these provoked people who have lost their own children and lost everything,” he said, adding that there had been growing dissent and outrage against Hamas during Israel's bombardment of the strip.

More than 50,000 people have been killed by Israeli weapons of war since October 7, 2023, when Hamas kidnapped more than 250 people from Israel and killed around 1,200 people.

Khan Younis resident Amir Al Fara, 37 said he stood with the protesters. “People took to the streets because they want to be heard. They want the war to end – by any means necessary,” he told The National.

Palestinian analyst Taghreed El Khodary said the protests were spontaneous and organised through calls on social media.

“People are fed up. They are now saying 'enough is enough'. But, it's important to see what the scene is like if more demonstrations take place,” Ms El Khodary said.

Arab and international states have been increasing pressure on Hamas to disarm, and withdraw from the political scene in Gaza. Hamas has repeatedly refused to do so – even after some of its leadership abroad signalled that it was willing to compromise.

In a recent incident that demonstrated this rift, Gaza-based Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassim denounced comments attributed to deputy leader abroad Mousa Abu Marzouk, who reportedly said that he would have opposed the October 7 attack if he knew how bloody the days ahead would be.

Hamas later issued a statement assuring that Abu Marzouk gives his full blessing to the events of October 7 – and that his initial statements were false and “taken out of context”.

Palestinian children in the ruins of a home in Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza Strip after Israeli weapons of war killed Amir Hussein and his young son Walid on March 26, 2025. AFP
Palestinian children in the ruins of a home in Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza Strip after Israeli weapons of war killed Amir Hussein and his young son Walid on March 26, 2025. AFP

Mr Bassiouni said this split in the leadership in and outside of Gaza has always been prevalent.

“People are fed up. They have realised that there isn't a 'right time' to do this. They're under occupation, they're in a genocide, and when the war resumed they became aware of their own reality,” he said.

Mohammed Qadada, a resident of Gaza, said he doubted the protests would effect change. “Arab nations, global summits, and western protests have all failed to bring an end to this war. Can a people already suffering as its victims succeed where others have not? It seems unlikely … but our hope in God remains strong.”

Overall standings

1. Christopher Froome (GBR/Sky) 68hr 18min 36sec,

2. Fabio Aru (ITA/AST) at 0:18.

3. Romain Bardet (FRA/ALM) 0:23.

4. Rigoberto Uran (COL/CAN) 0:29.

5. Mikel Landa (ESP/SKY) 1:17.

David Haye record

Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4

UAE WARRIORS RESULTS

Featherweight

Azouz Anwar (EGY) beat Marcelo Pontes (BRA)

TKO round 2

Catchweight 90kg

Moustafa Rashid Nada (KSA) beat Imad Al Howayeck (LEB)

Split points decision

Welterweight

Gimbat Ismailov (RUS) beat Mohammed Al Khatib (JOR)

TKO round 1

Flyweight (women)

Lucie Bertaud (FRA) beat Kelig Pinson (BEL)

Unanimous points decision

Lightweight

Alexandru Chitoran (ROU) beat Regelo Enumerables Jr (PHI)

TKO round 1

Catchweight 100kg

Marc Vleiger (NED) beat Mohamed Ali (EGY)

Rear neck choke round 1

Featherweight

James Bishop (NZ) beat Mark Valerio (PHI)

TKO round 2

Welterweight

Abdelghani Saber (EGY) beat Gerson Carvalho (BRA)

TKO round 1

Middleweight

Bakhtiyar Abbasov (AZE) beat Igor Litoshik (BLR)

Unanimous points decision

Bantamweight

Fabio Mello (BRA) beat Mark Alcoba (PHI)

Unanimous points decision

Welterweight

Ahmed Labban (LEB) v Magomedsultan Magomedsultanov (RUS)

TKO round 1

Bantamweight

Trent Girdham (AUS) beat Jayson Margallo (PHI)

TKO round 3

Lightweight

Usman Nurmagomedov (RUS) beat Roman Golovinov (UKR)

TKO round 1

Middleweight

Tarek Suleiman (SYR) beat Steve Kennedy (AUS)

Submission round 2

Lightweight

Dan Moret (USA) v Anton Kuivanen (FIN)

TKO round 2

How to apply for a drone permit
  • Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
  • Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
  • Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
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What are the regulations?
  • Fly it within visual line of sight
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PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES

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Saturday
West Ham United v Tottenham Hotspur (3.30pm)
Burnley v Huddersfield Town (7pm)
Everton v Bournemouth (7pm)
Manchester City v Crystal Palace (7pm)
Southampton v Manchester United (7pm)
Stoke City v Chelsea (7pm)
Swansea City v Watford (7pm)
Leicester City v Liverpool (8.30pm)

Sunday
Brighton and Hove Albion v Newcastle United (7pm)

Monday
Arsenal v West Bromwich Albion (11pm)

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Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.

Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.

Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.

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The biog

Name: Ayisha Abdulrahman Gareb

Age: 57

From: Kalba

Occupation: Mukrema, though she washes bodies without charge

Favourite things to do: Visiting patients at the hospital and give them the support they need.
Role model: Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation and President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood.

 

Tamkeen's offering
  • Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
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  • Option 3: 30% across five years 
UAE jiu-jitsu squad

Men: Hamad Nawad and Khalid Al Balushi (56kg), Omar Al Fadhli and Saeed Al Mazroui (62kg), Taleb Al Kirbi and Humaid Al Kaabi (69kg), Mohammed Al Qubaisi and Saud Al Hammadi (70kg), Khalfan Belhol and Mohammad Haitham Radhi (85kg), Faisal Al Ketbi and Zayed Al Kaabi (94kg)

Women: Wadima Al Yafei and Mahra Al Hanaei (49kg), Bashayer Al Matrooshi and Hessa Al Shamsi (62kg)

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  • Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
  • Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
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Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz

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The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

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Updated: March 27, 2025, 1:44 PM