What happened in Gaza after the US-brokered peace deal?

Days after a US-brokered peace deal aimed to end over two years of violence between Israel and Hamas, disturbing footage has emerged from Gaza. The video, widely shared on social media, allegedly shows Hamas militants executing Palestinians accused of collaborating with Israel in broad daylight.

Though independent verification remains pending, the footage depicts at least eight blindfolded and bound men kneeling before being shot by armed militants. Onlookers can be heard accusing them of being “collaborators.” The execution, reportedly conducted by the Sahm Security Force — a Hamas-run internal unit — has triggered international outrage and renewed concerns about the group’s methods of maintaining control within the enclave.

The timing of these killings, just days after President Donald Trump’s mediation helped secure a fragile truce and a prisoner-hostage exchange — has cast doubt on whether the Gaza peace deal can hold.

Why Hamas carried out public executions

Analysts believe the executions are not merely acts of punishment but also calculated displays of dominance. Public executions, they suggest, serve as both deterrence and demonstration, reminding Gaza residents of Hamas’s power while discouraging dissent or perceived betrayal.

According to statements posted on Hamas-linked Telegram channels, the victims were “traitors and collaborators” accused of aiding Israel during the recent conflict. The posts claimed they had provided intelligence to Israeli forces and endangered Palestinian resistance operations. However, human rights organizations argue that such extrajudicial killings reflect deep insecurity within Hamas’s ranks.

The Gaza-based Al Mezan Centre for Human Rights and the Palestinian Independent Commission for Human Rights both condemned the executions, calling them “gross violations of international law.” They stressed that no individual should face execution without due process, regardless of the allegations.

The complex rivalry: Hamas vs. the Dughmush clan

Adding to the chaos is a long-simmering feud between Hamas and the Dughmush clan, one of Gaza’s most influential families. Several of those executed are believed to belong to the Dughmush network, a faction that has frequently clashed with Hamas over control of territory and resources.

The Dughmush family, known for its historical connections to the “Army of Islam” militia, has often operated independently of Hamas. Reports over the years suggest Israeli intelligence may have infiltrated the clan to collect information about Hamas’s activities, a claim that, if true, complicates the distinction between “collaborator” and “rival.”

By targeting members of this family, Hamas may be attempting to eliminate potential opposition under the guise of counter-espionage. This move could consolidate its internal authority even as it negotiates fragile peace terms with Israel.

Why these executions threaten the peace process

The Gaza peace deal, announced by the Trump administration earlier this month, included provisions for a ceasefire, reconstruction assistance, and a phased prisoner exchange. Under the agreement, Hamas was expected to return Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israel.

However, families of several hostages have accused Hamas of violating the deal by returning only four bodies instead of the living captives, calling it a “blatant breach of trust.” The public killings — and the group’s silence on accountability, further weaken faith in its commitment to any peace framework.

Regional experts warn that such actions could unravel the tentative truce. “When one party uses violence to silence its own people, it’s hard to imagine lasting peace,” said one analyst from the Carnegie Middle East Center. “These executions are not just acts of retribution — they’re political statements meant to reassert dominance.”

Human rights response and international implications

Human rights groups have demanded an independent investigation into the killings. The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has previously criticized both Hamas and Israel for violations during the Gaza conflict, urging transparency and adherence to international legal standards.

Ihab Hassan, a Gaza-based human rights advocate, posted an image — later verified by the Daily Mail, showing armed men believed to be Hamas militants executing detainees at close range. “This is not justice. It’s revenge dressed as law,” Hassan said in a statement on X (formerly Twitter).

If verified, these executions could have far-reaching diplomatic consequences. Western governments, already cautious about engaging with Hamas, may hesitate to support reconstruction aid or political integration efforts in Gaza. Israel, meanwhile, is likely to use the incident as evidence that Hamas remains untrustworthy as a peace partner.

Why Hamas’s actions reveal internal insecurity

Hamas’s recent actions can be read as signs of growing internal anxiety. The group’s governance has been increasingly challenged, not just by rival factions like the Dughmush clan but also by public frustration over economic collapse, lack of basic freedoms, and years of conflict-driven trauma.

By staging such public punishments, Hamas projects control even as it struggles to maintain legitimacy. The act of labeling dissenters as “collaborators,” a charge often impossible to disprove, serves both as a warning and as a mechanism to suppress opposition before it can organize.

The optics, however, are damaging. For a movement seeking international legitimacy and reconstruction funds, images of blindfolded Palestinians executed in the street undermine its claims to responsible governance.

What happens next in Gaza?

The immediate future of the Gaza peace deal now hangs in the balance. If the international community fails to respond decisively, experts fear a return to the cyclical violence that has long plagued the region.

For ordinary Gazans, the latest executions are a grim reminder that peace, even when brokered at the highest diplomatic levels, can quickly dissolve into fear and repression on the ground.

TL;DR

• Hamas allegedly executed eight Palestinians accused of collaborating with Israel, days after a US-brokered peace deal.
• Human rights groups condemned the killings as extrajudicial and unlawful.
• Many victims belonged to the Dughmush clan, long at odds with Hamas.
• The incident jeopardizes the Gaza peace process, raising doubts about Hamas’s stability and commitment to peace.