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Hamas Justifies Executions of Palestinians Amid Rising Tensions Following Trump’s Warning
FIRST ON FOX: In a revealing interview with Reuters, a senior official from Hamas defended the group’s ongoing crackdown on dissent among Palestinians in Gaza. This comes as concerns grow over continued extrajudicial killings of the group’s critics.
From an undisclosed location in Gaza, Moumen Al-Natour, a Gazan lawyer and activist who has previously been imprisoned by Hamas, described a troubling scene in which families opposing the group face brutal consequences. He noted, “After the fire stopped, Hamas fighters emerged from underground tunnels and massacred families that opposed them. They aim to send a signal that they have returned, and they are doing so by instilling fear in the populace.”
In his defense of these executions, Hamas official Mohammed Nazzal told Reuters that such measures are deemed necessary during wartime. He stated that those executed were not innocent but labeled “criminals” due to their involvement in killings.
On Thursday, President Donald Trump issued a stark warning via Truth Social regarding the escalating violence. After footage surfaced online depicting Hamas fighters executing Palestinians in Gaza City, he remarked, “If Hamas continues to kill people in Gaza, which was not part of the deal, we will have no choice but to go in and kill them.”
Recent reports indicate that Hamas has executed at least 33 individuals in recent days, reflecting a brutal campaign intended to reassert control in the wake of a ceasefire. Sources suggest that many of those targeted had family ties to individuals accused of collaborating with Israel or aligning with rival factions.
Grassroots Resistance to Hamas Control
Al-Natour further explained that numerous local militias continue to oppose Hamas’s authority across the Gaza Strip. In Rafah, for example, the Abu Shabab clan has gained attention for recruiting fighters and resisting Hamas’s dominance. Similarly, resistance efforts in Gaza City and Khan Younis by the Doghmush and Mujaida clans highlight ongoing confrontations against Hamas.
Despite lacking stable territory, several groups linked to the Hellis network in Gaza City remain active in neighborhoods marked by tension with Hamas. These factions display signs of sporadic resistance, engaging in operations ranging from raids to armed standoffs. Al-Natour emphasizes, “These militias arise from the populace. They need acknowledgment and a unified approach to establish a political umbrella that governs these areas and ensures security.”
Aiming for Safe Zones
Working within what he describes as Trump’s peace framework, Al-Natour and his allies are striving to create safe zones in Gaza where civilians can access essential resources such as food, aid, and protection, without fearing retaliation from Hamas. “We can form a governing body in these safe zones,” he explained. However, those who dare to voice opposition to Hamas face severe consequences. “The individuals Hamas is targeting now are similar to me—Palestinians who have chosen to speak out.”
Joseph Braude, president of the Center for Peace Communications, articulated that Hamas is seizing the lull in conflict to settle past scores. He warned that this period poses significant risks for Hamas’s adversaries in Gaza. “They are exploiting this moment to reinforce their domination through terror,” he noted. “Recently, they killed a pregnant woman, an act of indiscriminate violence aimed solely at instilling fear among the population.”
Braude’s organization released a video highlighting a Gazan’s testimony about Hamas’s brutal actions, including the reported killing of a five-year-old child amidst their campaign against opposition.
The Complex Reality in Gaza
As the situation advances, Braude characterized Gaza’s landscape as fragmented. Reconstruction efforts could potentially commence in areas that remain under Israeli control, while conflict persists in other regions. “This scenario aligns with the proposed peace outline,” he observed. “Those Gazans opposed to Hamas, including armed factions, could establish self-governing enclaves supported by international assistance.”
He further predicted that a coalition of anti-Hamas militias, possibly backed by air support from Israel and private contractors, would engage in any necessary ground confrontations. “The framework will not revert to the conditions prior to October 7,” he emphasized.
Michael Milshtein, head of the Palestinian Studies Forum at Tel Aviv University and a former IDF intelligence officer, voiced concerns regarding Hamas’s acquisition of resources from local clans, mirroring Hezbollah’s approach in southern Lebanon two decades ago. “This situation presents a dilemma for Israel,” he noted. “If the Israeli military defends these clans, it risks igniting another war with Hamas. Conversely, if we abandon them, we might have to confront them in the future, similar to the allies we evacuated from Lebanon.”
Voices from the Ground
The ongoing chaos and fear reverberate among Gaza’s residents, many of whom spoke with Fox News Digital on the condition of anonymity. One individual described scenes of lawlessness, asserting that “gangs are in the streets” and cautioning that further internal conflict could erupt. Another resident expressed despair, stating, “No one knows who will govern or what will unfold next. Our only desire is to live without bloodshed.”
While Trump’s team promotes the Gaza ceasefire as a potential stepping stone toward lasting peace, the reality of executions, clan disputes, and the emergence of new militias pose challenges. Both officials and residents alike recognize that the post-war phase may significantly test the resilience of peace efforts, igniting fears that Gaza may again spiral into a cycle of violence and retribution.
Reuters contributed to this report.
