Return of the protests? Gazan social networks say maybe

Anti-Hamas activists are calling for a renewal of protests against the terrorist group's rule of the Gaza Strip on local social networks, according to a report today (Tuesday) by N12 News.

Activists seeking to revive protests against Hamas are calling on Gazan social networks to restart demonstrations against the terrorist group at nine different locations throughout the Strip at 5:00 PM local time.

The protest movement against Hamas started days ago from a number of locations in the northern Strip and expanded to other parts of the region. Protests numbering hundreds to a thousand or more condemned Hamas leaders, calling for the release of the hostages and a ceasefire in the Strip.

Protestors have been documented on social media clips decrying the poor state of public services following 15 months of war, including garbage collection, water supply, and other basic services and conditions.

Hamas and other terrorist groups have responded in a number of ways to this threat of rising popular protest.

The first is to try and co-opt the effort by claiming the protests are effectively against Israel for creating the poor conditions by waging war and refusing a permanent ceasefire.

The second is open terror and threats against protestors and protest leaders as "traitors" - including death threats and even assassinations.

Israeli leaders, including Defense Minister Israel Katz, have directly appealed to the Gazan population regarding the protests, saying that the only way to end the suffering in the Strip is for the hostages to be released and for them to rise up against Hamas and force them out of power.