The executions were carried out in public to the applause of the crowd, some of whom filmed the events. Among those killed was Ahmad Zidan al-Tarabeen, believed to be responsible for recruiting agents for the Abu Shabab militia.
Palestinian sources said the killings targeted individuals suspected of “treason” or maintaining ties to foreign organizations.
The executions came shortly after US President Donald Trump said during his flight to Israel on Air Force One that he had given Hamas permission to manage internal security in Gaza “as it sees fit.”
“They really want to stop the problems, and they have been open about it, and we have given them approval for a certain period of time,” Trump said. “About 2 million people are moving back into demolished buildings, and a lot of bad things can happen. So we want it to be that way – we want it to be safe. I think everything will be fine. Who knows for sure.”
On Sunday, reports from the Gaza Strip said 52 members of the powerful Daghmush clan were killed in violent clashes with Hamas internal security forces. Twelve Hamas terrorists were also killed, including the son of senior Hamas official Bassem Naim. Hamas militants reportedly used ambulances to storm the area home to a heavily armed clan – a family believed to be collaborating with Israel.
“This is a massacre,” said the daughter of one of the clan members. “People are being dragged, children are screaming and dying, our houses are being burned. What did we do wrong?”
After the ceasefire was announced, Hamas said it would not allow a security vacuum in the Gaza Strip. Under Trump's peace plan, Hamas was not supposed to rule the enclave and would have to disarm, something the terrorist group refused to do. Hamas has reportedly agreed not to govern directly if local Palestinian forces take power, rejecting any foreign presence.
In recent months, Israeli officials have acknowledged that Israel has provided limited support and weapons to several militias in the Gaza Strip. One of them is headed by Yasser Abu Shabab, who operates in Rafah. In recent days, Hamas has said it has killed one of Abu Shabab's close associates and is targeting Abu Shabab himself.
Another militia, led by the al-Mujaida clan in Khan Yunis, is led by Hossam al-Astal, who told Israeli news outlet Ynet that Hamas has become weaker and “no longer has significant power.”
His militia recently attracted attention when the IDF struck a Hamas cell that tried to attack its fighters in Khan Yunis. According to Palestinian reports, more than 22 Hamas terrorists were killed. Al-Astal said the attack exposed Hamas' growing weakness.
Al-Astal established its militia in the Kizan al-Najjar district of Khan Yunis, presenting itself as a “savior” from Hamas rule and inviting residents to move to the area, which had been evacuated by Israeli forces and placed under its control. He said the area was under his direct control and that he was coordinating with the Abu Shabab militia, which controls parts of eastern Rafah and eastern Khan Younis, although it operates independently.
