Anti-war protests erupt in north Gaza

CAIRO/GAZA CITY — Palestinians have protested in northern Gaza demanding an end to the current conflict, according to videos circulating online.

The videos, which appeared to be authentic, showed hundreds of people taking part in an anti-war protest in the destroyed northern town of Beit Lahiya on Tuesday. People held signs saying "Stop the war", "We refuse to die" and "The blood of our children is not cheap".

Some could be heard chanting, "Hamas out!" Other videos appeared to show Hamas supporters dispersing the crowds.

"We are sick of the bombing, killing and displacement," said Ammar Hassan, a young man from Beit Lahiya who took part in the protest.

It started as an anti-war protest with just a few dozen people but then swelled to more than 2,000, with people chanting slogans against Hamas, he said.

"It's the only party we can affect," he told The Associated Press by phone. "Protests won't stop the (Israeli) occupation, but it can affect Hamas."

Northern Gaza is one of the most devastated areas of the enclave. Most buildings in the densely populated area have been reduced to rubble and much of the population has moved several times to escape the conflict.

"The protest was not about politics; it was about people's lives," said Mohammed Abu Saker, a father of three from the nearby town of Beit Hanoun, who joined the demonstration.

"We want to stop the killing and displacement, no matter the price. We can't stop Israel from killing us, but we can press Hamas to give concessions."

The posts began circulating widely late on Tuesday. Reuters was able to confirm the location of the video by buildings, utility poles and road layout that matches satellite imagery of the area.

Reuters was unable to independently verify the date of the video. However, several videos and photographs shared on social media showed protests in the area on March 25.

A statement issued by community leaders from Beit Lahiya expressed support for the protests against Israel's offensive and its tightened blockade.

They also said the community fully supports armed resistance against Israel and rejects "any attempt to exploit legitimate popular demands by a fifth column", apparently referring to opponents of Hamas.

The protests erupted a week after Israel effectively ended its cease-fire with Hamas by launching a surprise wave of strikes. Gaza's health authorities said on Wednesday that at least 830 people have been killed in the Palestinian territory since March 18.

Earlier this month Israel halted deliveries of food, fuel, medicine and humanitarian aid to Gaza's roughly 2 million population.

Agencies via Xinhua