The future for Hamas
BBC World Service discusses the role of Hamas in Gaza
April 2025
In all the reporting of the war in Gaza and the mounting death toll, we seldom get to hear much about Hamas, the organisation largely in control. Their name is frequently mentioned but beyond that, we hear very little. On the BBC’s World Service (24 April) there was a discussion about this group and its future.
Protests against them are mounting with people reportedly shouting things like ‘Hamas is garbage’ and ‘All Hamas out’. Speaking out against the group is dangerous the programme notes as such people are beaten, tortured or killed for daring to protest. Particular instances were quoted of people murdered or violently attacked and there were interviews with some in hiding or in other parts of the world.
There has been an instance where a local community in the north of Gaza who’s local residents prevented Hamas from firing rockets. Despite firing on the crowd, the gunmen were successfully driven out.
An organisation called the Centre for Peace Communications has representatives in the area who over a period of 4 years have been interviewing people to establish their views. They report that opposition to Hamas has swelled and many are blaming them for the tragedy and destruction following October 7th. There is a preference for the PLO and a desire for Hamas to cease being a ‘governing actor’. It was interesting to note that young people felt this way. Joseph Braude of CPC made clear that people are anti both Hamas and Israel. This does not absolve Israel from responding in the ways it has and the disproportionate destruction it has wrought on the territory and its people.
Overall, Hamas is now considered to be ‘very weak’. Having suffered terribly over the past 18 months one can sympathise with people living in the increasingly desperate circumstances and their anger at the people who have brought this upon them.
#Gaza #Hamas #Palestine #PLO
