As the war steadily continues, some Gazans are risking their safety to share their frustrations with life under Hamas and their hopes for a different future, a Sunday report by The Sunday Times revealed. To protect their safety, all names in the report have been changed.

Yasir, one of those interviewed, expressed anger at the lack of global understanding of everyday Gazans’ perspectives. “Why do others always speak for us?” he asked a sentiment echoed by others in the Times report. He and his friend Badr are among the founders of Ekhteyar, an anonymous online platform created to provide a space for Gazans to share their thoughts. Launched in August, Ekhteyar (Arabic for “choice”) has already received contributions from over 100 people.

The Times report highlights growing discontent with Hamas, which has ruled Gaza since 2007 following a violent power struggle with Fatah. Many Gazans feel trapped under its control, and polling cited by the report reflects their disillusionment. The Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research found that support for Hamas has fallen to 35% during the current conflict. Separate polling by the Tony Blair Institute suggests that only 7% of Gazans want Hamas to govern the territory after the war.

While criticism of Hamas is mounting, Gazans interviewed for the Times report were keen to emphasize that this does not equate to support for Israel’s actions. Yasir and Badr accused some international activists of distorting the Palestinian narrative to align with their ideological agendas. “For some, Gaza is a stage for their own battles,” Yasir said. Badr noted that these activists often ignore the humanity of Gazans, turning their suffering into a spectacle. “To them, Gaza is a reality TV show where our blood fuels their rhetoric,” he added.