The footage shows blindfolded victims forced to kneel before being shot at point-blank range, with fighters chanting "Allahu Akbar." The brazen killings, reported by Bhaskar English, have ignited global condemnation and highlighted the fragile security vacuum in the war-torn enclave.
Hamas claims the victims were collaborators aiding Israeli forces, amid efforts to reassert control after two years of conflict. Following the IDF's retreat, the group has launched crackdowns on local armed gangs accused of looting humanitarian aid, exacerbating Gaza's starvation crisis. Hamas police patrols are now targeting these factions, aiming to restore order in Israeli-occupied zones.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas swiftly denounced the executions as "wrong," urging an end to vigilante justice. Gaza-based expert Abdalhadi Alijla echoed this, lamenting the absence of courts or rule of law after prolonged bombings and violence. "Such incidents have sadly become normalized," he told reporters. BBC analysis warns that with thousands of fighters redeployed, Hamas could dominate Gaza within weeks if the ceasefire holds.
Parallel to the violence, a humanitarian breakthrough: Hamas returned four more hostage bodies to Israel via the Red Cross on Tuesday, including three Israelis Staff Sgt. Tamir Nimrodi (18), Uriel Baruch (35), and Eitan Levy (53) and one unidentified Palestinian. This brings the total to eight bodies repatriated out of 28 pledged, leaving over 20 remains in Gaza. The Hostage and Missing Families Forum identified the deceased, vowing no rest until all are recovered.
Israel's response was resolute. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office demanded full compliance, stating, "We will leave no stone unturned." Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem affirmed ongoing commitments.
The grim developments coincide with U.S. President Donald Trump's diplomatic push. On Monday, Trump signed a landmark Gaza ceasefire accord in Egypt's Sharm el-Sheikh, joined by leaders from 20 nations excluding Israel and Hamas. Praising the "very special" deal, Trump hailed his team's role in overcoming "the most difficult task." Earlier, in a 65-minute Knesset address, he lauded Netanyahu as "brave and patriotic," crediting him for hostage releases and envisioning regional ties from Tel Aviv to Dubai.
Trump's vision: "A legacy where all fulfill dreams in peace, regardless of faith or origin." Yet, as executions underscore Gaza's volatility, experts question if the accord can endure amid rising tensions.
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