[2] Several human rights organizations and political factions have denounced attacks on protesters by Hamas security forces.

[4] At the time, Hamas raised taxes in the region, including on items like cigarettes, as well as food staples like tomatoes.

[4] In February, the call and hashtag "We Want to Live" started gaining traction online, specifically among several unaffiliated media activists.

[5][6] Protesters carried signs with statements such as: "We want to live the same life of luxury, money and cars as Hamas' leaders' sons.

[6] Amnesty International released a report on 18 March stating that hundreds of protesters were beat, arbitrarily arrested, detained, tortured, and subjected to "other forms of ill-treatment."