Some Gaza residents have condemned the Islamist group Hamas, in power in the occupied and conflict-ridden Palestinian territory, for failing to end the war with Israel. This war ruined their lives.
Hamas “led the Palestinians in a war of destruction”, said Umm Ala (67). He has been displaced twice during the more than eight months of war between the Hamas-led Palestinian militants and Israel.
“If the Hamas leaders were interested in ending the war and the suffering of the Palestinians, they would have come to an agreement,” Ala added. He is now hiding in Khan Yunis, the capital in the southern Gaza Strip.
Gaza residents who spoke to AFP were asked if they thought Hamas was also responsible for the delay in reaching a ceasefire.
The war broke out after Hamas’ unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7. It claimed the lives of 1,194 people, mainly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israel’s official figures.
The militants also took 251 hostages that day. Of these hostages, 116 are still in Gaza, although the military says 41 are dead.
In response to the attack on 7 October, Israel’s army launched a counter-attack against Hamas in Gaza. According to the Hamas-controlled area’s Ministry of Health, 37,332 people have died, including mainly civilians.
Apart from a one-week ceasefire in November, where more than 100 hostages and 240 Palestinian prisoners were released from Israeli prisons, several attempts at a new ceasefire were unsuccessful.
The USA, Egypt and Qatar act as mediators and are again in negotiations with Israel and Hamas to reach an agreement to bring the war to an end.
Some Gaza residents, who live in a climate of fear and restrictions since Hamas took over power in the area in 2007, blame the Islamists for the large-scale destruction caused by the war.
“Hamas made a mockery of us, our pain and the destruction of our lives,” said Abu Eyad (55), who now lives in northern Gaza.
Eyad, whose three children live with different relatives in different places, aimed his response at Hamas’ political leadership in Qatar. He says they “sleep comfortably and eat and drink”.
“Have you ever tried to live our lives today? Do you know how many times we have no food at all?” Eyad wants to know.
‘Devastation, extermination’
Washington is currently involved in talks to reach an agreement, as outlined by Pres. Joe Biden on May 31, but has not yet been able to come to terms with the two opponents.
Israel and Hamas are again pointing the finger at each other, just as they accused each other earlier of derailing efforts to end the war.
“We are tired, we are dead, we are beaten down and our tragedies are endless,” said Abu Shaker (35). “What are you waiting for?” he wants to know from the militant group. “What do you want? The war must be ended at all costs. We can’t take it anymore.”
Despite this criticism, a survey in Gaza and the Israeli-occupied West Bank showed that Hamas is still the most popular political force in the areas with a 40% preference, followed by 20% for Fatah, which dominates the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah.
The poll by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research was released on Wednesday. According to it, “overall support for the 7 October attack remains high”, although it shows a slight decrease, driven by a drop in support in Gaza.
Hamas announced at the beginning of May that it had accepted a ceasefire agreement, and this led to spontaneous celebrations in Gaza.
The survey said that two-thirds of those surveyed supported Hamas’ decision at that point. They expected the war to end within days, only to be disappointed.
However, the Gaza residents with whom AFP spoke are desperate and they just want to see an end to the conflict.
Umm Shadi (50) called on Hamas to “immediately end the war without seeking control or being in power in Gaza”. “What did we get from this war other than slaughter, destruction, extermination and starvation?” she wanted to know. “Every day that the war in Gaza increases, our pain and suffering increases. What is Hamas waiting for?”
