When Gaza was finally beginning to breathe after the ceasefire, Hamas has brought the Strip back to blood and fear. The Palestinian terror outfit has reportedly executed eight members of a rival militia in a semi-public setting, a chilling show of power that has left residents in shock.
According to Shafaq News, masked Hamas fighters rounded up the men, blindfolded them, and opened fire before a small crowd. The group claimed the victims were “criminals” who had “collaborated with Israel” during the two-year conflict that levelled much of Gaza.
But reports from Israeli outlet Ynet paint a darker picture that shows this wasn’t justice, it was a purge. At least 52 members of the powerful Doghmush clan, one of Gaza’s most feared armed families, have been killed in Hamas raids over the past week. Twelve Hamas fighters also died in the clashes, including the son of senior leader Bassem Naim.
Witnesses say Hamas used ambulances to infiltrate Doghmush territory, triggering outrage and accusations of exploiting civilian cover. The clan, long accused of cutting tactical deals with Israel, has now become Hamas’ prime target as the group tries to crush any challenge to its rule.
Analysts believe this bloodbath is Hamas reclaiming control through terror.
“Hamas fighters have crawled out of tunnels not for peace, but for revenge,” said Ahmad Sharawi of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, calling the move “a brutal message to every rival faction.”He further said, "We've seen clans and armed militias challenge the group's rule and its decision to bring devastation to the coastal enclave. Yet this moment reveals that Hamas still intends to keep its weapons, a reality that must be addressed with clear benchmarks and enforcement mechanisms when phase two negotiations on disarmament begin."
The executions come barely days after the US-brokered ceasefire which was meant to pave the way for disarmament and new local governance. Hamas has rejected both. Instead, it insists on holding on to its guns while claiming to prevent a “security vacuum.”
What was supposed to be Gaza’s peaceful days may already be slipping away, drowning out once again by the sound of gunfire.
