CAIRO: Palestinian groups threatened punishment on Thursday for 鈥渃ollaborators鈥� furthering Israeli goals after the first substantial protests against the war in Gaza and Hamas鈥� rule.

Hundreds of Palestinians have rallied in recent days in north and central Gaza, some chanting 鈥淗amas out鈥� in a rare show of opposition to the group whose October 2023 raid on Israel triggered a devastating offensive in the enclave.

More demonstrations, which Israel鈥檚 government has applauded, were being planned on Thursday.

A statement by the 鈥淔actions of the Resistance,鈥� an umbrella group including Hamas, threatened punishment for leaders of the 鈥渟uspicious movement,鈥� which Palestinians took to mean the street marches.

鈥淭hey persist in blaming the resistance and absolving the occupation, ignoring that the Israeli extermination machine operates nonstop,鈥� it said.

鈥淭herefore, these suspicious individuals are as responsible as the occupation for the bloodshed of our people and will be treated accordingly.鈥�

Hamas officials have said people have the right to protest, but rallies should not be exploited for political ends or to exempt Israel from blame for decades of occupation, conflict, and displacement in Palestinian territories.

Some protesters said they took to the streets to voice rejection of continued war, adding that they were exhausted and lacked basics like food and water.

鈥淲e are not against the resistance. We are against war. Enough wars, we are tired,鈥� said a resident of Gaza City鈥檚 Shejaia neighborhood, which saw protests on Wednesday.

鈥淵ou can鈥檛 call people collaborators for speaking up against wars, for wanting to live without bombardment and hunger,鈥� he added via a chat app.

Videos on Wednesday, whose authenticity Reuters could not verify, showed protests in Shejaia in the north where the rallies began and in the central Gaza areas of Deir Al-Balah, indicating the protests were spreading.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the rallies showed Israelis鈥� decision to renew the military offensive in Gaza after a ceasefire was working.

Hamas police, the group鈥檚 enforcers, are again off the streets.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz urged Gaza residents to keep expressing their discontent.

鈥淟earn from the residents of Beit Lahia,鈥� he wrote on X, referring to the first protest. 鈥淛ust as they did, demand the removal of Hamas from Gaza and the immediate release of all Israeli hostages 鈥� this is the only way to stop the war.鈥�

A Palestinian official with a militant group said protests were allowed 鈥� but not cooperation with Israel.

鈥淭hose suspicious figures try to exploit legitimate protests to demand an end to the resistance, which is the same goal as Israel鈥檚,鈥� he told Reuters via a chat app.