The We Want to Live movement (Arabic: بدنا نعيش, romanized: Bidna Na'eesh) is a grassroots youth movement in the Gaza Strip calling for increased economic opportunity and the removal of Hamas from power.[1] The movement was founded in March 2019, giving rise to the 2019 Gaza economic protests.[2] It is not connected to any one political party,[3] and some sources have connected the movement to the Arab Spring of the early 2010s.[4]
Goals
editThe movement is responding to multiple issues, broadly defined as economic disenfranchisement, such as unemployment rates and increased taxes.[4] Other issues of concern include the competency of leadership, electricity shortages, access to drinking water, food insecurity, access to education, and freedom of speech.[citation needed]
History
editThe movement began in March 2019, as part of the 2019 Gaza economic protests. The group's Facebook page quickly gained several thousand followers.[5] Initially, the movement was critical of Hamas, but did not call for its ousting, fearing that it would be an impossible demand.[6] Instead, they focused on material changes such as reduced taxation and lower prices of necessities, as well as a Fatah–Hamas reconciliation and new elections.[6][7] Multiple organizers of the movement, including Palestinian lawyer Moumen Al-Natour,[citation needed] were arrested and detained, charged with "collaborating with hostile foreign entities, in violation of domestic law". Several were referred to military courts.[8] After lobbying and popular and international advocacy campaigns, Al-Natour was released.[citation needed]
In 2020, one of the group's leaders, Suleiman al-Ajouri, committed suicide.[9] The movement's Facebook page posted about the event, connecting al-Ajouri's suicide directly to the economic disenfranchisement of Gaza's youth.[10] Four of al-Ajouri's friends were arrested following his funeral, due to their connections to the movement; several journalists reporting on his death were also arrested.[9]
In November 2021, the group again gained traction online following the drowning of three Gazan migrants attempting to reach Greece, and reports of Hamas leadership leading lavish lifestyles.[2] This continued in July 2022, with protesters sharing videos online of Gazans living in poverty and residents in physical confrontations with Hamas security forces.[11]
In late July and early August 2023, the movement again led in-person protests in response to the accidental killing of a man by authorities in Khan Yunis.[12][13][14] Hamas responded to the protests with increased security, and arrested several demonstrators and journalists covering the demonstrations.[13][14]
Response
editOver a thousand Gazans were detained by Hamas.[7] Hamas has attempted to downplay the movement by claiming that its leadership are Israeli or part of the Palestinian Authority.[2][15] When addressing physical demonstrations, Hamas has used arrests and excessive force.[13] Participants who have been arrested have been subject to torture.[1] One protester reporting losing his eyesight following repeated interrogations.[16]
Hamas has also intimidated journalists and confiscated their equipment to deter reporting on the movement or its protests.[17]
The movement has received support from the Palestine Liberation Organization.[4][14]
References
edit- ^ a b "West Bank and Gaza". United States Department of State. Retrieved 2024-01-05.
- ^ a b c Schneidmann, S. (2021-11-15). "Economic, Social Protests Against Hamas Flare Up Again In Gaza: 'We Want To Live'; The Economic Hardship Has Become Intolerable; Hamas Officials Are Out Of Touch With The People". MEMRI. Retrieved 2024-01-05.
- ^ El Bouabi, Mustapha (2019-03-20). "Protesters hold rare strike in besieged Gaza". The New Arab. Retrieved 2024-01-05.
- ^ a b c Ben Menachem, Yoni (2019-03-18). "Has the "Arab Spring" Reached Gaza?". Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs. Retrieved 2024-01-05.
- ^ Bar'el, Zvi (2019-03-18). "The Gaza Paradox: Palestinians Are Fed Up With Hamas, Israel Is Worried". Haaretz. Retrieved 2024-01-05.
- ^ a b Adam, Ali (2019-03-21). "Hamas crackdown on protests snuffs out a push for change in Gaza". The National. Retrieved 2024-01-05.
- ^ a b Pacchiani, Gianluca (23 July 2024). "Now in Germany, a Gazan dissident tries to set record straight on Hamas's brutal regime". The Times of Israel.
- ^ Al-Rayes, Salem (2019-04-08). "Between a rock and resistance: how Hamas crushes dissent in Gaza". Raseef22. Retrieved 2024-01-05.
- ^ a b Hass, Amira (2020-07-22). "In Gaza, Suicides Are a Political Message". Haaretz. Retrieved 2024-01-05.
- ^ "Deterioration in the mental health situation in the Gaza Strip". United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs - occupied Palestinian territory. 2020-10-05. Retrieved 2024-01-05.
- ^ Ibrahim, Sally (2022-07-28). ""We want to live", Gazans revive campaign against Hamas". The New Arab. Retrieved 2024-02-17.
- ^ Adam, Ali (2023-08-06). "Despite Hamas' crackdown, Gaza protests continue in rare defiance". Al-Monitor. Retrieved 2024-02-17.
- ^ a b c Alswerky, Sanaa (2023-08-07). "Gaza youth demand better living conditions amid renewed protests". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 2024-01-05.
- ^ a b c Pacchiani, Gianluca (2023-08-08). "Protests against Hamas reemerge in the streets of Gaza, but will they persist?". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 2024-02-17.
- ^ "Gaza protests to continue". BBC Monitoring. 2019-03-20. Retrieved 2024-01-05.
- ^ Freij, Imad (2019-04-11). "Mohammad Safi, lost his sight in Hamas torture chambers". Wafa. Retrieved 2024-01-04.
- ^ "Palestine: No Letup in Arbitrary Arrests, Torture | Human Rights Watch". 2019-05-29. Retrieved 2024-07-29.