Just days after a fragile ceasefire and the release of Israeli hostages, Hamas has launched a brutal internal crackdown in Gaza, executing members of rival Palestinian militias in a bid to consolidate its control over the war-torn enclave.
According to reports from Shafaq News and Ynet, at least eight men were executed by a Hamas firing squad in what appeared to be semi-public executions, with over 50 rival fighters killed in total during ongoing clashes. Videos circulating on social media show masked Hamas gunmen blindfolding and executing detainees, drawing widespread condemnation.
The group claims those killed had collaborated with Israeli forces or engaged in criminal activity during the two-year conflict that left much of Gaza in ruins. However, analysts and witnesses say the violence reflects Hamas’s attempt to crush opposition and reassert dominance over Gaza following the ceasefire.
Clashes with Doghmush Clan and Internal Fighting
The bloodshed has primarily involved confrontations between Hamas and the Doghmush clan, one of Gaza’s most heavily armed and influential factions.
- Reports from Ynet suggest that 52 members of the Doghmush clan have been killed in clashes with Hamas’s internal security forces.
- Twelve Hamas fighters, including the son of senior leader Bassem Naim, were also killed in the fighting.
Witnesses alleged that Hamas gunmen used ambulances to infiltrate Doghmush strongholds, a move that critics say endangered civilians.
The Doghmush clan, long accused by Hamas of collaborating with Israel, reportedly received limited aid and arms from Israeli intelligence to counterbalance Hamas’s influence in the region.
Analysts: Hamas ‘Settling Scores’ Post-War
Experts believe the crackdown is part of a broader message by Hamas to deter dissent after its losses in the recent Israel conflict.
Joe Truzman, a researcher at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), noted that the executions were conducted by Hamas’s “Arrow Unit”, notorious for suppressing internal dissent through violent means.
His colleague Ahmad Sharawi said the group is “settling scores after crawling out of its tunnels,” warning that the violence could trigger new waves of clan retaliation in Gaza.
Ceasefire Under Threat
The executions come just days after the implementation of a U.S.-mediated ceasefire deal, which included hostage and prisoner exchanges between Israel and Hamas.
Under the agreement, Hamas was expected to disarm and relinquish governance of Gaza to a neutral Palestinian administration. However, the militant group has refused full disarmament and insists on maintaining its “security role” in Gaza.
Israeli forces remain stationed along Rafah, northern Gaza, and border zones, while Jerusalem continues to demand complete Hamas disarmament as a non-negotiable condition for lasting peace.
Originally published on newsworldstime.com.
Originally published on 24×7-news.com.
