Hamas releases video of public execution

The agreement in the Middle East conflict between Israel and Hamas apparently does not lead to a calming down of the situation in the Gaza Strip. This is indicated by a video that the Islamist Palestinian organization distributed via messenger services and the Hamas television channel al-Aqsa TV after the ceasefire came into force on Tuesday. The footage shows Hamas members shooting eight men at close range who were bound, gagged and kneeling on the street. Hamas accused them of collaborating with Israel.

The executions took place on the street and in front of a crowd. The video recording was captioned with the words: “The resistance is carrying out the death sentence against a number of collaborators and outlaws in the city of Gaza.”

The Palestinian Authority strongly condemned executions of people in the Gaza Strip by the Islamist terrorist organization Hamas. Dozens of civilians were killed without trial, according to the Palestinian news agency Wafa from the office of President Mahmoud Abbas, whose authority administers the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

These are “heinous crimes” that cannot be justified under any circumstances. They represented a blatant violation of human rights and the rule of law and demonstrated Hamas’ willingness to enforce its rule through violence and intimidation. The president called for an immediate end to the killings, the protection of unarmed citizens and the prosecution of those responsible.

Abbas’s Fatah movement in the West Bank and Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, are seen as bitter political rivals. Abbas further stated: “The Gaza Strip is an integral part of the State of Palestine, and restoring the rule of law and legitimate institutions there is the only way to end the state of chaos.”

A commentator in the Israeli newspaper Yediot Achronot wrote: “Hamas has staged a public show of force and reestablished its control over the few parts of the Gaza Strip that had previously achieved some autonomy.” Public atrocities would now be carried out, including “executions as well as torture and ill-treatment of all those who were suspected of collaborating or who had dared to rise up against Hamas.”

He further wrote: “This organization, which emphasizes at every opportunity that it is ready to give up control of the Gaza Strip and hand it over to the Palestinian Authority, behaves on the ground like a movement that will do everything to never give up its power.” Part of US President Donald Trump’s plan is to disarm Hamas. However, the organization rejects this.

In the Gaza Strip itself, both Palestinian security forces and residents of the area expressed understanding for Hamas’ actions. The aim of the crackdown is to take action “against outlaws or those who threaten the safety of citizens,” security sources said. Accordingly, those publicly executed were “eight members of the Doghmusch family.”

The Hamas Interior Ministry accused the clan of having ties to Israel. A member of the Doghmusch family denied the allegations. Abu al-Hassan Doghmusch denounced Hamas’ actions on the online network Facebook. In recent days, “being part of the Doghmusch family was enough to be shot in the legs, killed, arrested, or have your house burned down,” he explained.