Prominent Activist Hospitalised
Amin Abed, 35, a Palestinian activist known for conducting anti-Hamas protests in Gaza, was kidnapped near his home on Monday afternoon and severely beaten by five masked men. Following the brutal attack, he has been hospitalised.
Attack Details Emerge
Abed, in critical condition, described his ordeal to the BBC. He recounted that the attackers, armed with guns and machetes, took him to a semi-demolished house, beat him, and accused him of being an “agent for Israel.” They also threatened to break his fingers to prevent him from writing further criticisms of Hamas.
Growing Dissent Against Hamas
Public dissent against Hamas has surged as residents of Gaza become increasingly angered by the devastation since the start of the war. The Hamas-run health ministry reports that Israel’s offensive has killed more than 38,240 people in Gaza, including 50 in the past day, following Hamas’s unprecedented 7 October attack.
Abed’s History of Activism
Before the war, authorities arrested Abed multiple times for his outspoken criticism of Hamas. On Monday morning, he posted a long criticism on Facebook, accusing Hamas of “dividing the Palestinian people” and “quashing their dream of a state.” In recent interviews, he criticised Hamas for its actions and the support it receives from those outside Gaza who do not experience the same hardships.
Condemnation from Fatah
Fatah, the ruling party in the West Bank and Hamas’s political rival, condemned the attack on Abed. They blamed the “de facto authorities in Gaza” for allowing criminality to spread and held them fully responsible for Abed’s well-being. This attack highlights the deepening schism between the two dominant Palestinian groups.
Call for Accountability
Gaza’s Hamas-run police force has largely disappeared from the streets due to Israeli airstrikes, although Hamas remains the official authority in the territory. The BBC has approached Hamas for comment on the attack. Meanwhile, the Israeli military continues its campaign in Gaza, launched in response to the 7 October attack, which resulted in 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages taken.
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