GAZA STRIP — A mass protest against Hamas rule scheduled for June 26, 2026, in the Gaza Strip did not materialize, with little public response and almost no attendees. The movement, described as the "June 26 revolution," was organized primarily by social and political activists, social media influencers, and Palestinian journalists residing abroad, mostly based in Egypt.

Hamas closely monitored the activists' plans, seeking to suppress the movement from its inception. Some protest organizers received messages from Hamas through their family members in the Gaza Strip, demanding they withdraw from the campaign. Relatives of some organizers were threatened with death.

Hamas made extensive efforts to curb the "June 26 campaign" through public denunciations and shaming of the movement and its supporters. The group accused protest leaders and activists of being backed by Israel. Protest leaders denied these accusations.

Abed al-Hamid Abed al-Ati, a protest organizer, stated that the aim of the movement was "to give hope to Gazans and show them a path to dignity and normal life, as no one else is stepping in." An organization based in Turkey, calling itself the "Palestine Scholars Authority," released an announcement stating that "it is forbidden for believers to call for or participate in it." The ruling described the protest as "a criminal act of betrayal of Allah and an assistance to the occupation and its goals."

One Palestinian from Gaza City reported that the protest "ended in failure because there was a lot of pressure on people to keep silent." The resident also stated, "Anyone who even considered joining the rallies refrained from doing so, as participants were labeled traitors and agents of anarchy." He added, "No one can imagine the level of fear and intimidation Hamas has instilled in people's hearts since its foundation in 1987." Hamas described the protest as a failure and as "evidence of Gazans' consciousness in confronting dangerous schemes targeting them." A Hamas member, Bassem Naim, said, "the people of Gaza have once again demonstrated their deep national sense of belonging and that they cannot be deceived by parties seeking to promote suspicious agendas." The Palestinian from Gaza City further commented, "People are simply too afraid to protest, even now after all what they've been through." He clarified, "This is because Hamas is still here, controlling people's lives, and nobody can say a word." He also stated, "It's very hard to explain the scale of the security, political and social control that Hamas asserts." He concluded, "No protest can succeed under these conditions while Hamas is still here in control."

Why It Matters

The failure of the June 26, 2026, protest reflects the operational challenges in organizing public demonstrations in the Gaza Strip. The campaign's inability to attract participants highlights the extent of control exerted by Hamas, which was founded in 1987. Hamas's actions, including monitoring, threats against organizers' families, and public denunciations, contributed to the protest's outcome.

The accusations from Hamas, stating that protest leaders were backed by Israel, and the counter-statements from protest leaders denying these claims, illustrate the nature of political discourse related to such movements. The broader context includes the stated aims of the protest organizers to offer a path to dignity for Gazans and the position taken by organizations like the "Palestine Scholars Authority" deeming participation impermissible.