PDB Afternoon Bulletin | March 26th, 2025: Gazans Stage Largest Anti-Hamas Protest Since War Began & Spy Agencies Issue Grave Warning Over Collaboration Between America's Foes
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What protest is taking place in Gaza?
It's Wednesday, the 26th of March. Welcome to the PDB Afternoon Bulletin. I'm Mike Baker, your eyes and ears on the world stage. Alright, let's get briefed. First up, in a rare show of public dissent, scores of Gaza residents took to the streets on Tuesday to protest against Hamas. Now, that's the largest public demonstration against the terror group inside the enclave since the war began.
What are the main points of the U.S. threat assessment?
Later in the show, U.S. spy agencies have issued a 30-page threat assessment warning that the usual suspects, China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia, America's four greatest adversaries, are increasingly working together to undercut U.S. interests abroad. But first, today's afternoon spotlight.
How are Gazans expressing dissent against Hamas?
I want to begin with our coverage of the Israel-Hamas conflict, as reports emerge that Hamas may be, and I caveat that with a big may, may be losing the support of some Gazans as frustrations mount over the group's handling of the war. On Tuesday, large crowds of Palestinians demonstrated against Hamas in northern Gaza, calling for an end to the war in what reports say is the biggest protest against the terror group in the enclave since their 7 October 2023 attacks on Israel. It was a rare show of dissent, with thousands of people marching through the streets of Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza, and that's according to estimates from CNN. Now, protesters could reportedly be heard chanting, quote, for God's sake, Hamas out, Hamas terrorists, and we want an end to the war.
A social media post from the protest organizers called for a further nine anti-Hamas demonstrations to take place on Wednesday, with a caption reading, quote, Our voices must reach all the spies who sold our blood. The message continued, quote, Let them hear your voice. Let them know that Gaza is not silent and that there is a people who will not accept to be eradicated.
What do recent polls say about Hamas's popularity?
Now, there have been small pockets of protests at times among local Palestinian residents of Gaza since the war began, but none match the scope of Tuesday's demonstrations. While opposition to Hamas among Gazans is very hard to gauge, a poll released last fall by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research suggests the terror group's popularity has been decreasing for some time. It found that support among Gazans for Hamas to remain as the governing body for the enclave had fallen to just 36%, and that's down from 46% in polling that was released in June. One of Tuesday's protesters told a BBC reporter, "...we refuse to die for anyone, for any party's agenda. Hamas must step down and listen to the voices of the grieving."
How has Hamas responded to protests?
Another could be heard shouting, quote, we don't want destruction, we don't want war, we want to live, end quote. Well, that seems reasonable. It will surprise no one to learn that Hamas fighters and supporters reportedly didn't take kindly to the public show of dissent and they moved in quickly to suppress the protests. Masked Hamas militants armed with guns and batons moved in on the crowds, assaulting and forcibly dispersing the protesters. Well, huh, that doesn't sound like a group that says they support and promote the best interests of the Palestinian people. It does make you wonder if there'll be campus protests in the US over Hamas's suppression of the Palestinian people.
What is the current situation with hostages in Gaza?
Meanwhile, pro-Hamas supporters throughout Gaza downplayed the significance of the demonstrations, calling the protesters traitors to their cause. The protests come roughly a week after the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas broke down, and Israel resumed ground and air operations in Gaza, targeting the militant group's fighters and leadership. Now, as a reminder, Hamas is still holding 59 hostages, though at least 35 are presumed dead. Coming up next, US senior officials got off their chat group long enough to issue a 30-page threat assessment, warning that China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia are increasingly working together to undercut US interests abroad. I'll have those details when we come back.
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Chapters
7 chapters
1
What protest is taking place in Gaza?
0:12–0:38
2
What are the main points of the U.S. threat assessment?
0:38–0:57
3
How are Gazans expressing dissent against Hamas?
0:57–2:07
4
What do recent polls say about Hamas's popularity?
2:07–2:56
5
How has Hamas responded to protests?
2:56–3:36
6
What is the current situation with hostages in Gaza?
3:36–4:24
7
What does the financial sponsor Stash offer?
4:24–11:27
Speakers
1 identifiedMore from The President's Daily Brief
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