Hamas Crackdown in Gaza: Executions, Security Operations, and International Pressure for Disarmament

After establishing control over Gaza in 2007 by defeating Fatah, Hamas has maintained its position as the dominant Palestinian faction in the Gaza Strip.

Hamas intensified its control over Gaza's devastated urban areas on Tuesday, initiating a security operation and executing suspected collaborators, while US President Donald Trump pledged to disarm the organization.

The Israeli military announced the recovery of four additional hostage remains from Gaza into Israel, following Hamas's previous day transfer of four other captives' bodies and release of the final 20 living hostages.

Hamas published footage on its official channel depicting the public execution of eight blindfolded, kneeling individuals, identifying them as "collaborators and outlaws."

This video, apparently recorded Monday evening, surfaced amid ongoing armed confrontations between Hamas security units and armed Palestinian family groups across parts of the territory, during the fifth day of a US-mediated ceasefire between Hamas and Israel.

In northern Gaza, as Israeli forces withdrew from Gaza City, black-masked armed police from the Hamas government resumed patrolling streets.

When buses carrying prisoners released from Israeli detention facilities arrived in Gaza on Monday, fighters from Hamas's Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades managed crowd control.

Meanwhile, a Hamas security unit has been conducting operations against armed clans and gangs, some allegedly supported by Israel.

"Intense clashes broke out — and are still ongoing at the moment — as part of efforts to eliminate collaborators," reported witness Yahya, who requested partial anonymity fearing reprisals.

Another Gaza resident, Mohammed, informed AFP: "For long hours this morning there were heavy clashes between Hamas security forces and members of the Hilles family."

The conflict occurred in Shujaiya, eastern Gaza City, near the so-called Yellow Line, beyond which Israeli forces still control approximately half of Gaza.

"We heard intense gunfire and explosions, and the security forces arrested some of them. We support this," Mohammed stated, also requesting partial anonymity.

A Palestinian security source in Gaza told AFP that Hamas's security body, a recently established unit known as the "Deterrence Force," was conducting "ongoing field operations to ensure security and stability".

"Our message is clear: There will be no place for outlaws or those who threaten the security of citizens," he declared.

Since defeating rival Fatah in armed confrontations in 2007, Hamas has been Gaza's dominant Palestinian faction.

Israel maintains that Hamas cannot participate in any future Gaza government, must return all deceased hostages' remains, and eventually surrender its weapons.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated Tuesday that the US plan for Gaza was "very clear" that following Hamas's return of captives, it would commence "both demilitarisation and disarmament."

"First, Hamas has to give up its arms, and second, you want to make sure that there are no weapons factories inside Gaza. There's no smuggling of weapons into Gaza. That's demilitarisation," he explained during a CBS News interview.

US President Donald Trump's 20-point plan indicates that Hamas members who agree to "decommission their weapons" will receive amnesty.

"If they don't disarm, we will disarm them," Trump told reporters at the White House after visiting the Middle East to celebrate the Gaza ceasefire.

"And it will happen quickly and perhaps violently."

The document, endorsed Monday by world powers at a Trump-chaired summit in Egypt, stipulates Gaza's demilitarization and prohibits Hamas from leadership roles.

For many Palestinians rebuilding homes and lives Tuesday amid Gaza's destruction, Hamas members' presence provided reassurance.

"After the war ended and the police spread out in the streets, we started to feel safe," said 34-year-old Abu Fadi Al-Banna in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza.

Hamdiya Shammiya, 40, who fled northern Gaza's fighting for shelter in southern Khan Yunis, concurred.

"Thank God the war is finally over. We've started to breathe a little," she expressed.

While Palestinians sought stability, Israeli families intensified pressure for the return of deceased hostages' remains still held in Gaza.

The agreement mandated the return of all missing persons — living and dead — with hostage families and Israeli leaders demanding Hamas compliance.

Among the returned deceased hostages, the military identified Guy Iluz, an Israeli national, and Bipin Joshi, a Nepalese agriculture student.

Later, the Families Forum, which advocates for hostage release, identified the other two as Yossi Sharabi and Daniel Peretz, an Israeli army officer.

"Now we can finally bring closure to the nightmare that began over two years ago, and give Yossi the dignified and loving burial he deserves," his wife Nira Sharabi stated, as quoted by the forum.

In Tel Aviv, people gathered to celebrate the freed living hostages and demand the return of others' remains.

"I don't know what to feel because I didn't think (we'd) reach this day where all the living hostages will return," demonstrator Barak Cohen told AFP.

"But still I see great difficulties in returning the remaining dead hostages," he added.