Hamas Executes 50 Rivals After Ceasefire – Inside Gaza’s Deadly Power Struggle

Hamas Executes 50 Rivals After Ceasefire – Inside Gaza’s Deadly Power Struggle amid fears of renewed internal violence. A week after a U.S.-brokered ceasefire took effect between Israel and Hamas, violence erupted again inside Gaza — this time among Palestinians themselves.

Witnesses and local reports describe an intense crackdown by Hamas on rival militias and clan groups, with dozens reportedly executed or detained in the aftermath of the truce. The bloodshed has reignited fears that Gaza’s fragile internal balance may collapse even before reconstruction begins.

Analysts say the new phase of violence underscores Hamas’s intent to consolidate control over the enclave, despite international calls for disarmament and shared governance. Local media and humanitarian observers report that at least 50 people were executed and several dozen others detained in recent days. The dead include members of the powerful Doghmush clan, a Gaza-based armed family long at odds with Hamas.

Hamas Executes 50 Rivals After Ceasefire – Inside Gaza’s Deadly Power Struggle

Videos Show Public Executions Amid Internal Crackdown

Videos circulating on regional platforms appeared to show masked men carrying out executions of alleged “collaborators” in Gaza City. The footage, though not independently verified, has been widely cited by media outlets and human rights monitors as evidence of Hamas reasserting its internal authority through fear and force.

Rights groups in Gaza and abroad condemned the actions as extrajudicial killings and called for investigations. The Independent Commission for Human Rights (ICHR), a Palestinian watchdog, described the reported executions as “a legal and moral crime that must be condemned and investigated.”

Hamas, in statements issued through affiliated media, said its internal security wing had carried out operations against “criminal elements” and “collaborators” allegedly linked to Israel. It insisted that the actions were necessary to prevent chaos after the Israeli withdrawal and to “maintain public safety and order.”

A Ceasefire Overshadowed by Internal Fear

The violence unfolded just days after a landmark ceasefire that ended nearly two years of conflict between Israel and Hamas. The truce, brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump, was part of a 20-point peace plan that envisions a phased disarmament of Hamas and the establishment of a new Palestinian-led governance body in Gaza.

Under the agreement, Hamas is expected to relinquish control of Gaza in later phases, while allowing local Palestinian forces — not aligned with any militant group — to manage civil administration. However, the recent crackdown suggests that Hamas intends to maintain a strong hand in local security affairs.

Trump, speaking en route to the Middle East earlier this week, said that Hamas had been given temporary approval to police Gaza, calling it a “short-term measure” to prevent lawlessness as residents return to devastated neighborhoods.

“They do want to stop the problems,” he said. “We gave them approval for a period of time so that things can stay safe. It’s going to be fine — at least for now.”

Power Struggles in a Shattered Territory

The ceasefire agreement brought an end to active fighting but not to Gaza’s deep political divisions. Hamas’s campaign against rival factions appears aimed at eliminating potential challengers to its authority before any political transition begins.

Among the targets were members of the Doghmush clan, one of Gaza’s most influential families, known for its private militias and long history of friction with Hamas.

Local sources say that armed clashes broke out between Hamas’s internal security units and Doghmush fighters in western Gaza City, resulting in casualties on both sides.

Residents reported that Hamas forces used heavy weapons and armored vehicles in several neighborhoods, while ambulances were seen entering areas controlled by the clan.

The Doghmush family issued a statement accusing Hamas of launching an “unjustified campaign of killings, intimidation, and home burnings”, saying that the victims were civilians and not collaborators.

“We hold all those who participated or remained silent about these crimes fully responsible before God and history,” the statement read.

Human Rights Groups Call for Accountability

Palestinian and international human rights organizations have urged an independent investigation into the reported executions and detentions.

The Al-Mezan Center for Human Rights said that the killings “constitute a violation of international law and basic principles of human dignity.”

It demanded accountability and legal oversight, warning that continued impunity could deepen divisions and undermine the fragile truce.

International NGOs echoed the call, noting that the alleged executions took place after the ceasefire came into effect — a period meant for humanitarian recovery and rebuilding trust among Gaza’s population.

“Extrajudicial killings, if confirmed, are clear violations of the right to life and due process,” said a senior rights researcher based in Ramallah. “They damage the legitimacy of any authority seeking to govern Gaza under international recognition.”

Trump’s Gaza Peace Plan and the Disarmament Challenge

The recent unrest poses a serious challenge to the U.S.-brokered Gaza peace plan, which aims to transition governance from Hamas to a Palestinian committee under international supervision.

The plan envisions a demilitarized Gaza and calls for the deployment of a multinational stabilization mission to support local police and civilian institutions. Hamas, however, has resisted full disarmament, arguing that its weapons are part of a legitimate “resistance” against occupation.

President Trump’s proposal includes an amnesty clause for Hamas members who agree to disarm and renounce violence. “Those who commit to peaceful coexistence will have a place in Gaza’s future,” the plan states.

Yet, Hamas leaders have said they will not surrender their arms, instead pledging to maintain internal order until a “national consensus” is reached among Palestinian factions.

Also Read: Trump & Netanyahu’s Gaza Peace Plan Sparks Uproar: Arab Nations Cry Foul

Gaza’s Civilian Population Caught in the Middle

For Gaza’s two million residents, the violence has compounded fears of insecurity even after the guns fell silent. Many families returning to destroyed homes now face new dangers from internal clashes.

Humanitarian agencies report that reconstruction efforts have stalled in several areas due to fighting between Hamas and local militias. Aid convoys have been delayed or rerouted, and relief workers say some neighborhoods remain inaccessible.

Residents describe an atmosphere of fear and confusion, with armed checkpoints reappearing across parts of Gaza City.

“We survived the war with Israel, but now we are afraid of our own people,” said one resident from the al-Sabra neighborhood. “No one knows who is in control anymore.”

Also Read: Trump demands Hamas disarm as group moves to assert control with public execution

Israel Monitors Developments from Afar

Israeli officials have refrained from direct intervention since the ceasefire, though Jerusalem has closely monitored developments.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated Israel’s demand that Hamas fully disarm as a precondition for any lasting peace arrangement.

“The disarmament of Hamas must be complete and verifiable,” an Israeli government spokesperson said. “Any attempt by Hamas to reassert military control in Gaza would undermine the ceasefire and the international reconstruction effort.”

Israel’s military presence remains limited to buffer zones along the border and parts of Rafah, where troops continue to monitor the movement of armed groups.

Internal Clans and the Fragmentation of Power

The Doghmush clan is not Hamas’s only rival. Several other family-based factions and small armed groups have long competed for influence in Gaza’s fragmented political landscape.

Some of these groups are suspected of having received limited support from Israel during the war as part of an informal strategy to weaken Hamas. Israeli officials have acknowledged providing assistance to “local defense networks” opposed to Hamas rule but denied arming them for offensive operations.

Analysts say these alliances have left a volatile mix of rival interests in Gaza, now surfacing as Israel steps back.

“The collapse of centralized authority in wartime allowed clan-based groups to accumulate weapons and territory,” said one security analyst in Tel Aviv. “Hamas is now trying to reimpose order, but its methods risk triggering wider unrest.”

Regional and Diplomatic Reactions

The Palestinian Authority in Ramallah condemned the reported executions, calling them “heinous crimes” and a “flagrant violation of human rights.”
It urged Hamas to respect due process and human dignity in line with international law.

Arab and international reactions have been cautious. Egypt and Qatar — both key intermediaries in previous Gaza ceasefires — have reportedly urged restraint and warned against “internal bloodletting” that could derail peace efforts.

At the United Nations, diplomats expressed concern that the internal violence could complicate the implementation of the ceasefire’s next phases, particularly those involving reconstruction funding and the deployment of international observers.

Reconstruction and Governance Uncertain

As Gaza struggles with devastation from two years of conflict, governance remains a central question. The ceasefire agreement outlines the creation of a transitional administrative body, but no clear timeline has been established for its formation.

Hamas’s actions have prompted fears that the group may attempt to retain de facto control, even if nominal authority shifts to a new governing council.

Humanitarian organizations stress that security, governance, and reconstruction must move together for any sustainable peace to take hold.

“The situation requires more than a political agreement,” said a senior UN official involved in Gaza’s reconstruction planning. “It demands genuine reconciliation, accountability, and a commitment to protecting civilians from further harm.”

The Human Rights Dilemma Ahead

The international community faces a dilemma: how to engage with Hamas in the short term to maintain stability while ensuring accountability for human rights abuses.

Legal experts note that under international humanitarian law, the de facto authority in a territory bears responsibility for protecting civilians — a role Hamas currently fulfills despite its contested legitimacy.

Human rights observers warn that unless independent mechanisms are established, Gaza risks entering a cycle of retribution that undermines both justice and recovery.

A Fragile Peace Under Strain

The latest violence highlights the deep challenges of implementing the Trump Gaza Peace Plan in a region scarred by years of blockade, conflict, and political division.

While international actors have welcomed the ceasefire as a first step toward lasting peace, the unfolding events in Gaza reveal that ending external war does not end internal conflict.

With more than 50 people killed in intra-Palestinian violence and dozens detained, the enclave now faces the daunting task of rebuilding both its cities and its social fabric.