Hamas Marks Al-Aqsa Intifada Anniversary With Call for Unity
Hamas marked the 26th anniversary of the Al-Aqsa Intifada by calling for a unified Palestinian strategy and international support to liberate holy sites.
On September 28, 2026, Hamas marked the 26th anniversary of the Al-Aqsa Intifada, an uprising sparked in 2000 by Ariel Sharon's raid on the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound. In a formal statement, the group called on Arab, Muslim, and international supporters to provide political, diplomatic, and media assistance to help Palestinians regain their rights.
Hamas characterized the current period as one of unprecedented escalation by Israel, accusing the government of pursuing annexation, displacement, and the judaization of Al-Aqsa. The group specifically cited the desecration of holy sites in Jerusalem by extremist settlers and asserted that such actions would not extinguish Palestinian resistance.
Referencing the historical context of the 2000 uprising—which resulted in 4,412 Palestinian deaths—and the October 2023 operation, Hamas noted that subsequent Israeli military actions in Gaza have killed more than 75,000 Palestinians. The group urged Palestinian factions to adopt a unified strategy and maintained that Israeli government plans are destined to fail.
