Discussion of the 26 June Gaza protest calling for self-rule

From a different source:

Palestinian activists have called on social media for mass protests against Hamas and its continued rule over the Gaza Strip, setting June 26 as a day of demonstrations across the enclave, in a repeat of earlier movements that were suppressed in past years.

Journalist and activist Abdul Hamid Abdul Ati was the first to call for and adopt the movement. A Gaza resident, he left for Egypt with his family during the war after a previous bombardment killed and wounded many of his relatives.

Activists known for opposing Hamas, including some who joined or called for similar movements years ago, backed Abdul Ati’s call and urged Gazans to take part. The appeal triggered a storm of reactions, some critical and others supportive.

Most of those calling for participation are now outside the strip, having left during the war or, in some cases, years earlier, after being detained by the Hamas government over similar events. Fewer voices inside Gaza have backed the movement, most of them less influential than other figures who remain in the enclave and have stayed silent.

As public debate widened, Hamas-affiliated media kept trying to discredit the movement and those behind it. Hamas controls part of the Gaza Strip after Israel seized more than 60% of the territory.

Activists aligned with the group mounted similar campaigns, accusing the organizers of serving foreign agendas and exploiting Israel’s escalation to launch the movement. They said those outside the strip had no right to speak for people living in displacement tents, shelters and other sites while they themselves lived abroad.

Abdul Ati said the accusations by Hamas and its supporters against him and other organizers abroad were an attempt to dodge the core issue.

“A Palestinian remains Palestinian wherever he is, whether in Gaza, the West Bank or the diaspora, and he has the right to speak about his people’s suffering and express his opinion freely,” he told Asharq Al-Awsat.

https://english.aawsat.com/arab-world/5283854-june-26-revolution-calls-gaza-protests-against-hamas

So you aren’t posting about Palestinians trying to go against Hamas, just continuing to go against someone who quite rightly says “where are all the posters about this very important topic”
She’s right, where are they.
Nothing to see here.

I think it's pretty understandable why it's not safe for those who organised this years protests to identify themselves.

Nevertheless, the motivation behind the protest seems legitimate, motivated by the “suffering of the people and their legitimate demands”.

We all agree that Hamas are terrorists so again, it's not hard to understand why some people in Gaza would feel strongly that they want to protest against them, and Gazans living overseas would also feel strongly about it.

That doesn't change just because the Israeli government had endorsed the protests on its Arabic account on X.

I think it’s because threads like this…..well you can see the tumbleweed rolling.

From that link:

The Facebook page of the June 26 Revolution, named after the date set for the protests' launch, says it is motivated by the “suffering of the people and their legitimate demands”.

It says the campaign is not affiliated with “groups or militias collaborating with the occupation [Israel], or any entities operating east or outside the Yellow Line” that divided Gaza into Israeli-controlled and Hamas-controlled territory after the ceasefire.

It is not clear who is behind the campaign, but several Gazans living abroad appear in videos posted on the Facebook page, including journalists, activists and opponents of Hamas.

https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/mena/2026/06/26/poor-response-to-call-for-mass-protests-in-gaza-over-living-conditions/

I'm not arguing with anyone. We agree that potential protestors in Gaza would have been put off voicing their legitimate concerns for fear of reprisals from Hamas.

It is highly unusual for Gazans to protest against Hamas - for very understandable reasons.

It could be the way forward if they were allowed to have more of a voice and then we would be able to see how many Palestinians don't support Hamas. At the moment we're only guessing or looking at flawed data - flawed because again, they may be afraid to speak the truth.

I share your wish for a new political party to raise and end the terror. Someone whose aim is to rebuild Gaza for the Gazans, without wars and terror.

In my heart I can't really see it happening though while Hamas are still there and not allowing any dissenting voices.

I don't know if that what happened. I am just going by what is in this thread. When I looked it up I only got Israeli articles on it. Limited web where I am.

But I got this about similar protests last year. France 24 :

Hundreds of Palestinians rally against Hamas in Gaza, demanding end to war with Israel - France 24

"On the social media network Telegram, at least one appeal to protest had circulated on Tuesday."

"I don't know who organised the protest," said Mohammed, a demonstrator who declined to give his last name for fear of reprisals."

"As of Tuesday evening, Telegram messages from unknown sources were calling on people to reprise the demonstration in various parts of Gaza on Wednesday."

And this line in that article stands out :

"Israel regularly calls for Gazans to mobilise against the Islamist movement that has been in power in the territory since 2007."

The article then goes on with the best data it has about how much support for HAMAS etc

"The last available survey was conducted in September by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research (PCPSR).

It estimated that 35 percent of Palestinians in Gaza said they supported Hamas, and 26 percent said they supported its rival Fatah, the party of Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas."

Also from last year I got this. Haaretz. And the byline says it all really.

"The protests need a path to success, but all Israel is offering to Gazans is control over their lives, just like in the West Bank, or emigration. By doing so, Israel is discouraging Gazans to hit the streets, even before Hamas turns its weapons on them"

Hypocrites in Israel Back Gazans' anti-Hamas Protests While Squashing Chances of Success - Israel News (haaretz.com)

So really, the question is, who organised this years protests. The Times of Israel just says "FACEBOOK".

Is that what happened?
Or was it organised by Gazan citizens?
If the first, then it is BS

I read it thinking it was Gazans standing up for themselves, out of their own accord, without no further terrorist groups pressing them. Parents fighting for their children's future, with words and plackards.

I hope it is the later and they standing up for themselves, to take control of their lives, in a peaceful political way.

So a foreign nation endorsed a protest in a different nation against the Government of that different nation ?

Is that not like if the UK Government was to endorse/ encourage the people of HK to do a protest in HK against the CCP ?

Edit to add. Then when the protest does not happen the Government of the endorsing nation say, " see how scared the people of that other nation are".

💯 extremely manipulative

That stood out to me too @Boolabus . Knowing they would risk death to protest.

(Although Israel also use the "no trial no process" method)

After propping up Hamas while the PA was seen as the worst option they are just manipulating situations to suit the agenda of land expansion. Pretending to care about Palestinians while murdering them.

I would love to share your optimism, the road to self determination is very long and they are not even on that road yet.

Oh, thanks for posting this!
It is only the second time I hear about Gazans protesting against Hamas and demanding peace. Being the first one during one of the "ceasefires". So brave!
This is the way forward, in my opinion. Well done to them and I hope they gather momentum and support. Wishing for a new political party to raise and end the terror. Someone whose aim is to rebuild Gaza for the Gazans, without wars and terror.
I think this is the people the international parties should support.
I hope they succeed in their quest for freedom and peace.

Thanks
So some protests did happen. It does feel incredibly manipulative of desperate people tbh. I find this statement pretty disgusting
The Israeli government had endorsed the protests. On its Arabic account on X, it encouraged people to “revolt against the oppressors”, a reference to Hamas, which has ruled the territory since 2007.
Definitely a lot of bad faith actors involved in this

Obviously it's a fear of protesting against an armed terrorist group.( And it being supported by the country that shot ten day old breastfeeding baby)

No one is arguing against that.

I think you might be arguing with yourself.

Nobody is accusing anyone of supporting Hamas.

Maybe it was conflicting for Palestinians I don’t know. But the feeling of fear of being executed for protesting was a strong disincentive too, obviously.

We do know that some Palestinians who wanted to protest against Hamas rule were scared off from doing so.

It has echoes of the IRGC murdering their own civilians for protesting against the regime. Much of the mainstream media was slow to report on that too.

I note that the Guardian aren’t even covering the story.

So glad I cancelled my subscription to them.

My rationale is previous experience of this board and the threads that don’t involve blaming Israel get far less interest.

Will be pleasantly surprised if this turns out not to be the case and people actually want to discuss what is happening in Gaza with Hamas aggression towards any Palestinian not 100% on board with them.

Agree. Read the telegraph article on it yesterday, but having looked through various news sites today, can’t find any more information on it.

Nobody supports Hamas. When will this simple piece of information get through?

https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/mena/2026/06/26/poor-response-to-call-for-mass-protests-in-gaza-over-living-conditions/

This was all I could find on it @Boolabus . I imagine it being endorsed by Israel was conflicting for Palestinians who have been relentlessly murdered by them the past couple of years

Don't think using their pain at their living conditions (as a result of both and Hamas and Israel) as point scoring is in very good faith.

There will be little condemnation on this board
What's your rationale for this statement? Are you once again accusing posters of supporting terrorist organisations. Do you genuinely believe that posters don't care if Hamas oppress, terrorise or kill Palestinian civilians? I see little point engaging with anyone that would hold thar pretty offensive view of other posters on these threads. You have had a dig twice at posters on this thread wondering are you posting in good faith at all tbh.

I cannot find any information on the proposed protest outside of the telegraph or times of Israel which appear to be relying on social media sources so very difficult to know what is going on. I once again wish independent media and observers were allowed in and Palestinians had support from a body they could trust rather than been caught between Hamas, armed gangs and the IDF.

This protest was reported on in May last year but I see nothing on BBC about this planned protest

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cyvmmr154v2o

So Hamas did not allow the protest to go ahead (surprise surprise).

There will be little condemnation on this board.

Or outrage at the process for dealing with those who posted anything supportive of the protests on Facebook or offered any help to protesters, "no trial, no process, just immediate death".