Gaza activists plan protest against Hamas rule, which fears the backlash

Activists on social media who live outside the Gaza Strip are organizing a popular protest against Hamas rule for June 26. According to a report by Elior Levy on KAN News, they are trying to galvanize demonstrators by channeling anger over poverty, unemployment, and destruction caused by the war into political pressure.

The organizers are also calling on Hamas to leave governance in Gaza and withdraw from the civilian and political arena. Their demands include basic rights for residents, such as employment, education, health care, and security.

Hamas is responding by telling its security forces not to confront the protesters directly, so as not to give the movement added momentum. KAN 11 reported that, on the communications front, Hamas is trying to shift blame toward Israel.

There is also concern that the group could carry out executions of alleged collaborators on the eve of the protest to create fear and reduce turnout. The success of the initiative will depend on how many Gazans join in on the ground, and on Hamas’s ability to contain, absorb, and psychologically deter the protest.