The death of a three-year-old boy in a fire has sparked a rare anti-Hamas demonstration in Gaza.

Over 500 protesters in the Bureij refugee camp called for the toppling of the ruling group after the child died when a candle, which had been lit during a power cut, burned down his family’s house, Reuters reported. The fire also caused critical burns to his infant sister.

The crowd, who chanted, "the people want to down the regime" as the boy’s body was moved to hospital, were quickly dispersed by police.

Despite households in Gaza having only six hours of electricity a day since February due to frequent power cuts, anti-Hamas protests are unusual.

Hamas blames the electricity shortages on Egypt for restricting the flow of fuel and on the Israeli blockade.