Gaza residents launch anti‑Hamas protests demanding basic services and accountability

On 26 June, Palestinians in the Gaza Strip organized large demonstrations under the slogan “Wir wollen leben” (“We want to live”). Protesters called for basic necessities such as water and for an end to Hamas rule, citing years of economic hardship, displacement and the devastation that followed the October 2023 conflict.

The protests coincided with renewed reports of Hamas‑linked violence against civilians. A Facebook post by Hiba al‑Mashal described how Hamas forces seized a food‑distribution bus, executed twelve men and demanded “blood money” (diya) from the victims’ families, stating that “the hour of reckoning is imminent.” A UN‑commissioned report documented 249 alleged abuses by Hamas security units between August 2024 and January 2026, including public executions, torture and sexual violence, highlighting the group's use of intimidation to control the population.

These developments underscore growing civilian frustration in Gaza and increasing international scrutiny of Hamas’s governance and human‑rights record.