Ceasefire Hangs in the Balance as Israel Warns of Resumed Hostilities
Gaza City – October 16, 2025 – Israel has threatened too resume fighting in Gaza if Hamas does not return all hostage remains, as a fragile ceasefire enters its sixth day and internal clashes escalate within the territory. The warning comes amid reports of Hamas consolidating its control and a crackdown on suspected collaborators.
Since the ceasefire began, Hamas security forces have visibly expanded their presence in cities across the Gaza Strip, according to Agence France-Presse (AFP) journalists. This expansion has been accompanied by a campaign of repression, including the alleged execution of eight individuals accused of collaborating with Israel, as depicted in a Hamas-released video AFP has been unable to independently verify.
fighting has broken out between Hamas and rival groups, notably in the Chadjaya district of Gaza City. Witnesses reported “intense” clashes pitting a hamas-affiliated unit against armed clans and gangs, some allegedly supported by Israel.
A recently formed Hamas security body, the “Deterrent Force,” is reportedly leading the operation to ”neutralize wanted people,” according to a Palestinian security source in Gaza. In a press release, the Deterrent Force stated its intention to target “people involved in collaboration with the occupier and its mercenaries, as well as any person who offers them refuge” and to “clean the home front.”
The developments occur as humanitarian needs remain acute for palestinians in Gaza. A spokesperson for the German Foreign Ministry, quoted by Reuters, stated that the alleged Hamas executions constitute “acts of terrorism against the population,” while concurrently emphasizing the continued need to provide humanitarian aid to Palestinians.
