First on Fox: While Israel is preparing to expand his activities in the enclave, there is a calm resistance to Hamas. In the east of Rafah, teachers lay the foundation for the first schools aimed at peace and tolerance under a non-Hamas civil administration.
Samira Mousa Mohammed Abu Mousa, one of the educators, told the Center for Peace Communications in an interview: “I despise Hamas because they were discriminatory, they were extremely biased, even when placing jobs. You had to have jobs to get work.”
Her classroom has become a space where children learn. During a recent lesson she asked her students: “Is it okay to violate the rights of a girl and to lock her up in her room?” The answer was immediately: “Really not!” The children answered. “Everyone has the right to freedom.” She emphasized the broader mission of education outside of academics.
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Children at school learn peace and tolerance in the east of Rafah. The school functions outside the Hamas system. (The Center for Peace Communications)
“People like I long for peace, comfort, hope and security. We want to live in an environment without war, shelling and destruction. We live for two years through war. We will start again and restore education, God wants it.”
The efforts in the eastern Rafah reflect the wider shift by Gaza. Citizens, educators and activists are increasingly rejecting Hamas and calling for a government that serves citizens, not the terror organization.
“I’m going from place to place, hide because I don’t want to be killed or even paralyzed. This is how Hamas works.”
Palestinians demonstrate in Gaza City against Hamas Rule and ask for an end to the war on March 26, 2025. (TPS IL)
Al-Natour, who is also the president of Palestinian youth for development, says that the number of people who encounter Hamas has increased dramatically since 7 October. “There used to be some opposition to Hamas,” he says, “but after the attack and the consequences that followed, more and more people in Gaza despise.
“It is a catastrophic situation … almost the entire population is displaced.”
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Al-Natour says that Hamas uses extreme measures to silence every opposition. “Hamas recently released a video with members of the Al-Qassam brigades that people performed. They publicly threatened everyone who speaks out against them and said they would treat them as enemies.”
He said that the position of the Israeli government, that Hamas does not offer alternative or negotiating options, has deteriorated the situation. “The worst is yet to come,” warns Abusada. “The plan of the Israeli cabinet to take over the city of Gaza and the entire Gaza Strip will only make the situation more catastrophic.”
Palestinian Hamas terrorists are a guard on the day of the transfer of hostages in Rafah in the Southern Gaza Strip, February 22, 2025. (Reuters/Hatem Khaled/File photo)
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According to Abusada Hamas, Palestinians call on to accept a ceasefire and to include other parties in the negotiations. “Negotiating only with Hamas does not help … Hamas do not care about death. They think that when they die, they go to paradise. That is why it is very rare when Hamas hunters surrender. Most of them fight to the end and want to be Shaheed (martyrs). They are ready to die.”
“The voices I hear from Gaza call on to bring in the PA (Palestinian authority) or Egypt to be part of the cease -the fire. People just want to put an end to this madness,” he said.
Another Gazan, who asked for anonymity, repeated these feelings. “It is true that many people are now against Hamas. People speak freely. They are no longer afraid. They are no longer afraid of Hamas. They are just killers, stupid people.”
Gaza City on February 2, 2025. (Ali Jadallah/Anadolu via Getty images)
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“Gaza’s people don’t want to fight Israel,” added the Gazan man, “but at the same time many Gazans are blaming Israel the fault of not distinguishes between citizens and Hamas. We are kept in the same area as Hamas? Israel has to think about safe zones. Now the importance of this idea of this idea can.
“For the first time, people speak out, even with a great personal risk … They want to change. They want to put an end to the violence and they are ready to make their voice heard,” said Al-Natour.
