Gazans Plan Anti-Hamas Protest as Activists Say the Group Is Trying to Sow Chaos

Gaza activists are calling for people to take to the streets on Friday for a "Day of Rage" against Hamas, in protest over life in tents and what they see as the movement’s failure to improve living conditions in the Strip. The organizers have branded their campaign the "June 26 Revolution." The demonstrations are meant to channel growing anger at Hamas over the harsh reality for displaced residents and the group’s inability, in critics’ view, to address it.

One activist told Channel 14 that Hamas is trying to prevent people from joining by spreading confusion and portraying protesters as bad actors. "Hamas are trying to create chaos so that people will not go out to demonstrate, and to create the impression that those taking part in the protests are not good people," he said.

The report said Channel 14 aired an extensive segment on the issue the previous day and interviewed one of the protest organizers. To learn more, the network contacted Hussam al-Astal, an anti-Hamas militia activist from Khan Younis who is known to have received Israeli aid.

Al-Astal said the anti-Hamas militias in Gaza are not connected to the planned demonstrations, but they hope the protests succeed. He said Hamas is running a scare campaign, accusing the group of causing trouble and claiming that the protesters are backed by the IDF and that the organizers live inside the "yellow line." After months of quiet complaints and anger on social media, Friday will show whether opposition to Hamas stays online or moves into the streets.