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

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 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. ^[7] 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. ^[8] The movement's Facebook page posted about the event, connecting al-Ajouri's suicide directly to the economic disenfranchisement of Gaza's youth. ^[9] 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. ^[8]

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. ^[10]

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. ^{[11] [12] [13]} Hamas responded to the protests with increased security, and arrested several demonstrators and journalists covering the demonstrations. ^{[12] [13]}

Response

Hamas has attempted to downplay the movement by claiming that its leadership are Israeli or part of the Palestinian Authority. ^{[2] [14]} When addressing physical demonstrations, Hamas has used arrests and excessive force. ^[12] Participants who have been arrested have been subject to torture. ^[1] One protester reporting losing his eyesight following repeated interrogations. ^[15]

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] [13]}

References