In the turbulent days following the US-brokered ceasefire in Gaza, the region has witnessed a dramatic and violent reassertion of control by Hamas, as well as mounting international pressure for the group to disarm. The fragile truce, intended to halt months of devastating conflict and facilitate the return of Israeli hostages, has instead been marked by public executions, tense political exchanges, and a humanitarian crisis that shows no sign of abating.
On October 10, 2025, footage emerged online showing a chilling scene in the Zeitoun neighborhood of Gaza City: eight men, accused of collaborating with Israel, were forced to their knees by Hamas fighters clad in body armor and headbands, before being executed in front of a large crowd. According to BBC Verify, the incident was meticulously geolocated to a central junction in Gaza City, a site that had only recently returned to Hamas control after an Israeli military withdrawal. The crowd, which included at least one child, shouted accusations of "collaborator" and "agent" as the fighters opened fire, later celebrating with chants of "long live the al-Qassam Brigades"—the military wing of Hamas.
This execution was not an isolated event. Other verified clips, reviewed by BBC Verify and Reuters, depicted masked gunmen firing on unarmed men, and armed Hamas internal security forces patrolling the streets of Gaza City, including through bustling markets in Zeitoun. These shows of force, experts say, are part of Hamas’s attempt to consolidate power and counter the challenge posed by rival armed clans such as the Dughmush, with whom tensions have simmered for years. Clashes between Hamas and these clans have left more than 50 people dead over the past two years, including 12 Hamas members. Yaniv Voller, a senior lecturer in Middle East Politics at the University of Kent, told BBC Verify that "the collapse of other social institutions has increased the appeal of the clan, which can serve as a social network for its members." Some of these groups, according to Voller, have reportedly received weapons and support from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to act as proxies against Hamas.
Meanwhile, the ceasefire itself—brokered by US President Donald Trump and intended as a first step toward a lasting peace—has been under strain from the outset. The agreement required the return of all 48 Israeli hostages held by Hamas. On October 13, 2025, 20 living and four deceased hostages were handed over. The following day, Israel identified the remains of three more hostages: Uriel Baruch, Eitan Levy, and Tamir Nimrodi, bringing the total number of deceased hostages in Gaza to 21. Nimrodi’s death, in particular, was a grim revelation; he had been abducted alive but was reportedly killed in an Israeli airstrike, according to the Hostages and Missing Families Forum. Yet, a fourth set of remains returned by Hamas was determined not to belong to any hostage, but likely to a Gazan civilian, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed after forensic analysis.
Hamas and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) have acknowledged the immense difficulty of recovering slain hostages amid the widespread destruction in Gaza. The ICRC, acting as a neutral intermediary, has facilitated the return of remains, but local health and forensic authorities bear responsibility for identification. As of October 15, 2025, Gaza’s Ministry of Health reported that 45 deceased Palestinians being held by Israel had been returned to Gaza, bringing the total number of bodies received to 90.
Despite these efforts, the slow pace of hostage remains being returned has fueled tensions. An Israeli military official warned that if all the bodies were not handed over by the deadline, a special force would be established to recover them. The United Nations reported that Israel had threatened to halve the amount of humanitarian aid entering Gaza due to delays in the return of hostages’ remains—a move that could exacerbate an already dire humanitarian situation. According to the UN’s humanitarian agency, OCHA, 817 trucks entered Gaza on Sunday, but confusion persists over the actual flow of supplies, with some officials questioning the accuracy of reported figures.
Against this backdrop, President Trump has taken an uncompromising stance. Speaking to reporters on October 14, he threatened that if Hamas did not disarm within a "reasonable period of time," the US would "disarm them," adding, "It’ll happen quickly and perhaps violently. But they will disarm." Trump’s peace proposal called for Hamas to forfeit its weapons and withdraw from governing Gaza, though the group has not agreed to these terms. In a social media post that same day, Trump emphasized, "ALL TWENTY HOSTAGES ARE BACK AND FEELING AS GOOD AS CAN BE EXPECTED. A big burden has been lifted, but the job IS NOT DONE. THE DEAD HAVE NOT BEEN RETURNED, AS PROMISED! Phase Two begins right NOW!!!"
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu echoed Trump’s warnings, telling CBS News, "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 demilitarization." Netanyahu added, "We agreed to give peace a chance. I hope we can do this peacefully. We’re certainly ready to do so." Yet, he also warned that failure to demilitarize could lead to renewed fighting, echoing Trump’s sentiment that "all hell breaks loose" if Hamas does not comply.
Inside Gaza, Hamas’s internal security organization has reportedly urged residents to report “wanted individuals,” including alleged collaborators with Israel. Video obtained by Reuters showed masked gunmen executing several men in a Gaza City street, their shirts pulled over their heads before being shot. Another video depicted armed Hamas members patrolling the streets, reinforcing the group’s grip on the enclave. Palestinians who spoke to the BBC expressed fear and dismay at the public executions, with one Gaza lawyer lamenting, "Why are people cheering for chaos? A masked man kills another masked man without any proof, without investigation, without a court, without even a waiting period for appeal—what do we call this? Resistance? No, this is lawlessness." Another activist added, "Executions without fair trial are a crime. May God guide our people."
The United States Central Command weighed in on October 15, urging Hamas to "suspend violence" and adhere to Trump’s 20-point peace plan by "disarming without delay." Admiral Brad Cooper, CENTCOM’s commander, called it "an historic opportunity for peace," insisting that "Hamas should seize it by fully standing down." Yet, as violence and uncertainty persist, the path to lasting peace in Gaza remains fraught with peril and complexity.
As the world watches, the future of Gaza—and the prospects for a genuine and durable peace—hang in the balance, shaped by the actions of armed factions, the demands of international leaders, and the desperate needs of a population caught in the crossfire.