As Israel’s devastating war on the Gaza Strip nears its 600th day, the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has issued a call for three days of worldwide protests, urging the international community to rise up against the ongoing campaign of genocide and starvation inflicted upon the Palestinian people.

In a statement released on Tuesday, Hamas called on supporters of justice and freedom across the globe to join coordinated demonstrations from May 30 to June 1, in condemnation of Israel’s relentless assault and siege on the besieged coastal enclave.

“This is a call to escalate all forms of global action in the cities and squares of the world, against the aggression, genocide, and starvation imposed on our people in the Gaza Strip,” the statement read. Hamas also emphasized solidarity with the Palestinian people in Gaza, Jerusalem, and at the sacred Al-Aqsa Mosque, which continues to face increasing violations by Israeli forces and extremist settlers.

600 Days of Catastrophe

On Wednesday, Palestinians and supporters around the world will mark 600 days since Israel launched its full-scale assault on Gaza on October 7, 2023. According to Palestinian health authorities, the Israeli military campaign has killed nearly 54,000 people—an overwhelming majority of them women and children—and left around 123,000 others injured. Gaza’s infrastructure lies in ruins, hospitals have collapsed, and entire neighborhoods have been wiped off the map.

Despite mounting international condemnation, Israel has intensified its stranglehold on the Gaza Strip, closing all border crossings since March 2, and preventing the entry of essential food, medical supplies, fuel, and humanitarian aid. International organizations, human rights groups, and even some Western officials have repeatedly warned that Israel’s blockade amounts to a war crime and an intentional effort to starve a civilian population.

International Legal Proceedings Mount

Israel’s actions have drawn growing scrutiny from international courts. In November, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, charging them with war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the Gaza war.

Moreover, Israel is currently standing trial at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague on charges of genocide, brought forth by South Africa and backed by numerous countries and legal experts worldwide. The ICJ has already issued provisional measures ordering Israel to prevent genocidal acts and to ensure the flow of humanitarian aid—orders that Israeli authorities have flagrantly ignored.

Rising Global Solidarity

In recent months, global outrage over Israel’s actions has swelled. University campuses from the United States to South Africa, and from Türkiye to the United Kingdom, have become hotbeds of pro-Palestinian activism. Students, unions, human rights defenders, and faith leaders are calling for boycotts, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) against Israel, echoing the anti-apartheid campaigns of the 20th century.

With this latest call from Hamas, pressure is building for a new wave of global mobilization to demand an end to Israel’s occupation, a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, and justice for the thousands of Palestinian martyrs.

“The time has come for the free people of the world to act,” the Hamas statement declared. “Let the streets of every city echo with the voice of Palestine, with the voice of Gaza, with the voice of humanity.” (ILKHA)