Odai al-Rabei, a 22-year-Gazan who has been involved in anti-Hamas protests, was abducted from Gaza City, tortured, and murdered by terrorists before being returned to his family home, according to his family.
Graphic images of al-Rabei’s mutilated body went viral on social media showing the extent of the torture by Hamas’s al-Qassam brigades terrorists.
Odai’s family was seen in a video accusing a “sinful, rogue group affiliated with the Qassem Brigades” of the act, adding that “they dragged him and tortured him to death with all kinds of hard tools.”
The family added that the “unjust criminals” should face an “iron fist.”
“Odai fasted Ramadan, he prayed, and he read the Quran,” the family added. “We call on all human rights organizations and institutions to stand in support of the people of Gaza against these criminals. O Allah, take revenge.”
At his funeral procession, thousands of participants voiced their rage chanting, “In spirit and blood we’ll redeem you, Odai,” and “Out, out, out! Hamas out!” according to the Jerusalem Post.
According to Palestinian activist Hamza Howidy, in Odai’s last video posted to social media, he spoke about Hamas terrorizing his family and shooting his brother.
Gazans took to the streets three days last week all around the strip, calling for an end to Hamas rule, in a rare display of opposition to the terrorist group. Protesters marched through Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza carrying white flags, demanding Hamas end its rule, and calling for the Israeli hostages to be released.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the rare anti-Hamas protests in the streets of Gaza over the past two days are proof that Israel’s policies are working.
“In recent days, we have seen something we have never seen before — public protests against Hamas rule in Gaza,” Netanyahu said in the Knesset, Jewish News Syndicate reported. “This shows that our policy is working.”
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz praised the protesters and encouraged others to join in, calling it the “only way to stop the war.”
“Learn from the residents of Beit Lahiiya, as they did, you should also demand the removal of Hamas from Gaza and the immediate release of all Israeli hostages,” Katz said. “This is the only way to stop the war.”
He added that military operations will soon spread in Gaza, which may require more evacuations from combat zones.
“The plans are ready and approved. Hamas is risking your life and will make you lose your homes and more and more land that will be added to the Israeli defense array,” Katz said.
The protests marked the first time Gazans had taken to the streets to call for peace since January 2024, though those protests were smaller.
In recent weeks, Israel eliminated more than a dozen Hamas leaders, many of whom were key to maintaining Hamas’ control over Gaza’s population, beyond just its militant operations.
In addition to air strikes, IDF troops have begun ground activities in central and southern Gaza to create a buffer zone between the north and south of the strip.
“We eliminated tens of thousands of terrorists and senior murderers,” Netanyahu said while speaking during a debate in the Knesset, which his political opposition is able to call once a month. “As long as Hamas persists in refusing to release our hostages, the pressure we apply will become stronger and stronger. This includes capturing territories and other moves I will not elaborate on here.”
Netanyahu’s comments build on Katz’s threat to annex part of the Gaza Strip if Hamas continues to refuse to release the 59 hostages held by the terror group.
“I have instructed the IDF to seize additional areas in Gaza, evacuate the population, and expand security zones around Gaza to protect Israeli communities and IDF soldiers,” Katz said, according to The Jerusalem Post. “The more Hamas persists in its refusal to release the hostages, the more territory it will lose, which will be annexed to Israel.”
