Gaza City – Just days after a ceasefire with Israel took effect, Hamas is reasserting control within the Gaza Strip, deploying security forces to several cities and reportedly carrying out extrajudicial executions, even as former U.S. President Donald Trump threatens further action if the group does not disarm.
Trump, speaking to the press at the White House, issued an ultimatum to Hamas to disarm, giving a timeframe he described as “reasonable” without specifying further details. He also demanded the return of the bodies of hostages who died in Gaza, calling it a necessary step for the next phase of his plan for the Palestinian territory. On his Truth Social platform, Trump stated, “THE WORK IS NOT FINISHED. THE DEAD WERE NOT HANDED OVER AS PROMISED!” - a message delivered following a recent trip to Israel and Egypt where he proclaimed “peace” had been achieved in the Middle East.
Meanwhile, AFP journalists have observed members of Hamas security forces deployed in markets and along roads in several towns throughout the Gaza Strip. Reports indicate “intense” fighting in Gaza City’s Choujaiya district between a Hamas-affiliated unit and armed clans, some allegedly supported by Israel.
A Palestinian security source in Gaza confirmed that a newly formed body within Hamas’s security apparatus, the “Deterrent force,” is conducting operations to ”neutralize wanted people” and “guarantee security and stability” in the region.
Adding to the escalating tensions, Hamas released a video appearing to show the execution of eight men accused of collaborating with Israel in Gaza City. The video, posted on Al-Aqsa TV’s Telegram channel, depicts the men being shot after being lined up in a public square. AFP has not yet independently verified the authenticity, date, or location of the footage.
The Independent commission for Human Rights (ICHR),established by the Palestinian Authority in 1993,has condemned the executions,calling for an end to “extrajudicial and arbitrary executions in the Gaza Strip.” A Palestinian security source stated a “resistance security unit” executed eight members of the Doghmoush family on Monday, a clan with whom Hamas forces clashed on Friday, leaving multiple casualties on both sides, coinciding with the start of the ceasefire.
