Violent clashes have broken out between Hamas and rival groups in several areas of Gaza, including one incident that culminated in an apparent public execution, as concerns grow over the security situation following Israel’s withdrawal from parts of the territory.
Reports of violence were widely shared on social media channels, with one particularly gruesome video showing a group of masked fighters, some of whom were wearing green Hamas headbands, killing eight blindfolded people in a square in Gaza City as crowds watched – a possible sign of the brutality Hamas is using to reassert itself as a security force.
A CNN verified the location where the video was filmed, the Al Sabra neighborhood in western Gaza City, but could not independently confirm when the incident occurred.
However, it is likely that the incident occurred after the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas came into effect, as Israeli troops were already operating in the area before that. War damage to buildings seen in the video suggests it was filmed recently.
The detainees — all apparently adult men — are seen being dragged into the square, with their hands tied behind their backs. Some are partially undressed and barefoot.
Some of the fighters are seen severely beating some of the prisoners as they line up to be executed. The fighters celebrate after shooting the inmates.
The Al-Mezan Center for Human Rights, a Palestinian NGO, described the incident as an “extrajudicial execution of citizens” and called for an investigation into the incident and for those responsible to be brought to justice.
The Hamas-affiliated Radaa security force said in a statement that it “conducted a precise operation in the center of Gaza City, resulting in the neutralization of several wanted and fugitive individuals.”
No evidence was presented.
Radaa said it took control of positions in Gaza City and “carried out sweeps and arrests of individuals who participated in shootings, killings of displaced people and attacks on civilians.”
A CNN could not independently confirm the identities of the fighters or prisoners, but the video surfaced after days
A CNN previously reported that Hamas-affiliated Telegram channels said the violence began after the son of a senior Hamas military commander was killed.
Human rights group Al-Mezan said it received reports that gunmen clashed with gunmen from a local family in the Sabra and Tel al-Hawa neighborhoods of Gaza City after the ceasefire came into force on Friday.
He said that according to the information gathered, the attackers claimed that they were trying to arrest a group of suspects.
“The clashes resulted in casualties between family members and the attacking force. After the arrest of several family members, the video showing the execution of several citizens was widely circulated on social media,” the center said, adding that no official statement from local authorities was released on the incident.
Radaa said in a statement on Monday (13) that it was carrying out “comprehensive security operations that resulted in the arrest of a large number of collaborators and individuals operating outside the law”.
In the statement, Radaa said it had arrested a group of “outlaw elements” who fired at security forces in central Gaza and that it had detained several people “involved in cooperation with an armed militia and in recruiting collaborators during the war” in southern Gaza.
A statement from the Doghmush Family said it was “shocked by a harrowing internal campaign that targets our innocent children, involving murder, intimidation, torture and burning of homes with their residents inside, without any justification and under false pretenses that have no bearing on reality.”
The family said it lost around 600 members during this war and that the Israeli Army launched a brutal campaign against the family after it “firmly and completely rejected all attempts by the occupation to win her over or recruit her to work on its behalf.”
“What is happening today is a heinous crime committed against a family known for its firmness, determination and rejection of all forms of collaboration and betrayal,” the family said.
“We hold all those who participated in, contributed to, or remained silent about these crimes fully responsible before God and history.”
Video of the executions was widely shared online, including by Israel’s Foreign Ministry, which said the footage showed why Hamas “must end.”
“The terrorist group rules through fear – executing civilians, torturing dissidents, shooting anyone who dares to protest. Palestinians seeking food or freedom are met with bullets, not compassion. It is not resistance – it is tyranny,” the ministry said.
The video came to light after US President Donald Trump suggested he would give Hamas approval to police the territory for “a period of time”.
Trump was questioned while traveling in the Middle East on Monday.
“They want to end the problems. They were open about it and we approved of it for a period of time,” Trump said in response.
Israel has been pushing hard for the complete disarmament of Hamas to be included in the ceasefire agreement.
However, Trump’s 20-point ceasefire plan, published last week, says that “Hamas members who commit to peaceful coexistence and dismantle their weapons will receive amnesty.”
Asked about Hamas on the Air Force One flight to the Middle East on Monday, Trump said the group would police the area for some time.
“They lost probably 60,000 people. That’s a lot of retribution,” he said. “We have almost 2 million people coming back to buildings that have been demolished, and a lot of bad things can happen. So we want it to be safe. I think it’s going to be OK… who knows for sure… but I think it’s going to be OK.”
