The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has called for a wave of global protests, strikes, and sit-ins this weekend, urging continued mobilization until Israel ends its brutal war on Gaza. 

In a statement released on Tuesday, Hamas praised the ongoing demonstrations as “a rejection of the genocidal war” against Palestinians being committed by Israel.

Hamas urged people across the Arab world, as well as in Asia, the Americas, and Western countries, to step up their protest rallies and actions against Israel.

“We in the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) deeply value the widespread global movement and the massive popular demonstrations that have taken place across Arab and Islamic countries, as well as in Western, Asian, and American cities and capitals denouncing and rejecting the crimes and genocidal war being waged against our Palestinian people and expressing solidarity with Gaza, al-Quds, and the holy al-Aqsa Mosque.”

Hamas highly appreciates the global pro-Gaza and anti-Zionist mobilization, calls for its continuation and escalation, it said.

“We value the global movement in support of Gaza and against the Zionist aggression,” the statement read.”

The Palestinian resistance group also backed a call by Islamic institutions naming  April 26 as a day of widespread strike action in shops and malls across the Muslim world.

“We also commend the call by Islamic institutions and leaders to designate Saturday, April 26, as a day of comprehensive strikes across commercial shops and centers throughout the Islamic world in condemnation of the genocidal war in Gaza and in solidarity with our Palestinian people, and their just cause and legitimate rights to freedom and independence.”

It also urged pro-Palestinian movements to continue the protest marches and rallies in the coming days—Friday, April 25; Saturday, April 26; and Sunday, April 27—and beyond, until the Israeli aggression ends and the blockade on Gaza is lifted.

Such actions, it said, represent “an expression of solidarity with our people and our right to freedom and independence.”

More than 51,200 Palestinians, the majority of them women and children, have been killed in Gaza.

In November 2024, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former war minister Yoav Gallant, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel is also currently facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice over its actions in the besieged region.