We Want to Live movement

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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]

Moumen Al-Natour is the main organizer of We Want to Live movement, Al-Natour is a Palestinian lawyer and human rights activist.

Goals

The 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

The 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.[6] Multiple leaders of the movement, including Palestinian lawyer Moumen Al-Natour, were arrested and detained, charged with "collaborating with hostile foreign entities, in violation of domestic law". Several were referred to military courts.[7]

Moumen Al-Natour organized electronic campaigns and led protests on the streets of the Gaza Strip, and was subjected to assassination attempts by Hamas, but they failed.

Hamas arrested Mr. Al-Natour for ending the protests, but after he was released every time from prison, he was calling on the people to rise up against Hamas.

Mr. Al-Natour has been a strong opponent of the Hamas government, publicly calling for the overthrow of the Hamas government as it receives instructions from Iran.

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.[8]

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.[9][10][11] Hamas responded to the protests with increased security, and arrested several demonstrators and journalists covering the demonstrations.[10][11]

Response

Hamas has attempted to downplay the movement by claiming that its leadership are Israeli or part of the Palestinian Authority.[2][12] When addressing physical demonstrations, Hamas has used arrests and excessive force.[10] Participants who have been arrested have been subject to torture.[1] One protester reporting losing his eyesight following repeated interrogations.[13]

Hamas has also intimidated journalists and confiscated their equipment to deter reporting on the movement or its protests.[citation needed]

The movement has received support from the Palestine Liberation Organization.[4][11]

References

  1. ^ a b "West Bank and Gaza". United States Department of State. Retrieved 2024-01-05.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ El Bouabi, Mustapha (2019-03-20). "Protesters hold rare strike in besieged Gaza". The New Arab. Retrieved 2024-01-05.
  4. ^ a b c Ben Menachem, Yoni (2019-03-18). "Has the "Arab Spring" Reached Gaza?". Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs. Retrieved 2024-01-05.
  5. ^ Bar'el, Zvi (2019-03-18). "The Gaza Paradox: Palestinians Are Fed Up With Hamas, Israel Is Worried". Haaretz. Retrieved 2024-01-05.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ Al-Rayes, Salem (2019-04-08). "Between a rock and resistance: how Hamas crushes dissent in Gaza". Raseef22. Retrieved 2024-01-05.
  8. ^ Ibrahim, Sally (2022-07-28). ""We want to live", Gazans revive campaign against Hamas". The New Arab. Retrieved 2024-02-17.
  9. ^ Adam, Ali (2023-08-06). "Despite Hamas' crackdown, Gaza protests continue in rare defiance". Al-Monitor. Retrieved 2024-02-17.
  10. ^ a b c Alswerky, Sanaa (2023-08-07). "Gaza youth demand better living conditions amid renewed protests". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 2024-01-05.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ "Gaza protests to continue". BBC Monitoring. 2019-03-20. Retrieved 2024-01-05.
  13. ^ Freij, Imad (2019-04-11). "Mohammad Safi, lost his sight in Hamas torture chambers". Wafa. Retrieved 2024-01-04.
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