The people of Gaza have come to a stark realization: Hamas is losing its grip on the Gaza Strip. As curses against senior Hamas officials flood social media, and reports emerge of beatings and abuses by Hamas's policing units, the locals are making a pragmatic choice for their own survival, even if it means aligning with Israel.

The influx of refugees from northern Gaza is the most telling sign of Hamas losing control over its civilian population. Despite Hamas's relentless efforts to prevent residents from complying with Israel's demand to evacuate the northern Gaza Strip, which included roadblocks, beatings, and even shootings, hundreds of thousands made the journey southward toward Khan Younis and Rafah.

Sources in the Arab media report the cooperation of thousands of Gazans with the IDF in handing over locations of Hamas forces, locations of tunnels and IDF warehouses and launch sites.

The cooperation began after the IDF distributed leaflets calling for the provision of… pic.twitter.com/NTDrPju9ta

— Israel War Room (@IsraelWarRoom) November 10, 2023

In a desperate bid to shape the narrative in favor of Hamas, the media in Gaza, including Al Jazeera and freelance "journalists," along with network influencers enlisted by the organization, sought to capture images of evacuees from the northern Gaza Strip. Their goal was to produce content that would bolster the terrorist organization's narrative and portray Israeli forces as brutal oppressors. Their focus was primarily on elderly women and children, hoping to extract statements that would either elevate Hamas's international reputation or tarnish Israel's image. However, much to Hamas's chagrin, their control over the media's portrayal of Gaza began to wane.

"I saw the tanks, and I saw death; we escaped death," said an elderly Gazan in Amira, who once worked for Hamas. Yet, her husband entered the scene, vehemently cursing senior Hamas officials. "Abu Al-Abed (Ismail Haniyeh), I'm Abu Hamza from the refugee camp, I'm telling you, you and Mashal (Khalad Mashal) are the biggest collaborators."

In another video, a young man recounted the humiliation he endured at the hands of Hamas. "Hamas security personnel beat us and subjected us to humiliation. They need to be held accountable," he declared.

Hamas spokespersons, both in Gaza and abroad, have been working tirelessly to project an image of victory, emphasizing that Israel has made no significant gains beyond the mere presence of IDF tanks in the heart of the Strip, which they deem "marginal." However, it appears that the Gazan population has grasped a reality that Hamas officials vehemently deny: this war is proving to be a losing battle, if not a definitive defeat, for Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

זוכרים אותם מחלקים ממתקים ב 7 לאוקטובר וצורחים מוות לישראל,
עכשיו הם מדברים נגד חמאס.
העזתיים פועלים לפי חוקי השכונה שקובעים, תמיד תהיה עם הצד החזק.
הם מבינים שחמאס מושמד.
אנחנו צריכים להבין, שישראל חייבת תמיד להיות חזקה pic.twitter.com/WOsVo8xBhe

— assaf gibor (@assafgibor) November 13, 2023

As the situation unfolds, it becomes evident that the residents of Gaza are making pragmatic choices for their safety and future. The shift in sentiment indicates a desire for stability and security, even if it means turning to Israel as a beacon of hope amidst the turmoil.