Hamas reasserts control with widespread executions 

The shocking pictures coming out of Gaza showing Hamas security forces carrying out public executions of political opponents accused of collaborating with Israel should come as no surprise. 

The same practices were used by Hamas after previous military confrontations with Israel. After the 2009 “Cast Lead” operation, Human Rights Watch reported that Hamas executed more than 30 of its opponents. Following the 2012 week-long fighting, titled “Pillar of Defense” by Israel, the organisation documented seven extrajudicial executions. Similarly, after the 2014 “Protective Edge” operation, Amnesty International reported the extrajudicial execution of at least 23 Gazans by Hamas. 

The targets of Hamas’ current cleansing campaign are local clans and warlords, as well as traditional opposition factions.  

Hamas has prevented any formal political activity in Gaza for years, but opposition to its rule has developed based on localised family-based armed groups, each promoting the interests of its own family members. The decentralised and disorganised nature of those groups makes them vulnerable. 

Hamas’ targets are clans it accuses of collaborating with Israel.  

Over the past months, Israel reportedly encouraged some local clans to operate as tactical security forces and administrators in the areas that were under IDF control. Now, following Israel’s withdrawal as part of the ceasefire agreement, those groups have found themselves in direct confrontation with Hamas forces.