Hundreds of Gazans Defy Hamas Threats in Largest Anti-Hamas Protests in a Year

Hundreds of Gazans took to the streets on June 26 in the largest visible anti-Hamas mobilization since the 2025 protest wave, defying an industrial-scale Hamas campaign of intimidation, kidnappings, and death threats. Branded the "June 26 Peaceful Revolution," the coordinated effort spanned 18 sites including Gaza City, Khan Yunis, displaced-person camps, and major hospitals, with organizers demanding an end to Hamas rule, dignified living conditions, and accountable governance. Hamas deployed police, intelligence units, and al-Qassam Brigade militias to crush dissent, issuing religious edicts branding protesters as collaborators with Israel, a capital offense. The mobilization confirms what Israel has long maintained: ordinary Gazans hold Hamas responsible for their suffering and yearn to be free of the terror group's grip.