Anti-Hamas movement emerges in Gaza
Group calling itself 'rebellion against tyranny' inspired by Egypt's Tamarod movement calls for mass protests against Gaza rulers
Already making waves on social media sites as well as earning recognition from the Arab press, the group has declared a day of mass protests against Hamas to be held November 11 – the anniversary of the death of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. A video posted online said that on that day, the oppression imposed by Hamas will be lifted.
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Hamas is referred to in the video as the "Gaza brotherhood" in reference to Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood. The group stresses that it is not against Hamas in principle, but against what the movement has become since taking over the Gaza Strip. "Today's Hamas is not the Hamas of yesterday. Ahmed Yassin's Hamas is not the Hamas of Gaza's security forces," they say.
Hamas' oppressive practices in the past few years have meant that Gazans avoid coming out in public against the government.
The new movement is therefore careful to keep its members' identities secret. In the video they address the viewers with their faces covered.
On Wednesday, Hamas' Ismail Haniyeh addressed the group in a speech and urged its members not to "take a dangerous path." He added that this might have serious repercussions for Palestinian unity but nevertheless tried to appease them by stating he is an advocate of rebellion "but one against the occupation and the (Zionist) enemy."
Sources in the Strip claim that Haniyeh has ordered the arrest of the group's members before they gain wider exposure.
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