Hamas expanded its presence in the ruined Gaza Strip on Tuesday, October 14, carrying out a campaign of repression and executing alleged “collaborators”, as Donald Trump claimed that Washington would disarm the Palestinian movement if it did not do so itself.
The US president also urged Hamas to return the remains of hostages who died in Gaza, a step he considers necessary to move to the next phase of his plan for the Palestinian territory ravaged by two years of war.
Hamas handed over four new mortal remains to the Red Cross on Tuesday afternoon, reported the Israeli army, which received the coffins shortly after midnight on Wednesday.
On Monday, it released the last 20 living hostages it had held since the attack that started the war on Oct. 7, 2023, in exchange for nearly 2,000 prisoners freed by Israel, and handed over the remains of four hostages. For its part, Israel handed over the remains of 45 Palestinians, transferred to the Nasser hospital in Khan Younes (south).
Disarmament of Hamas
Since the ceasefire came into effect on Friday, AFP journalists have seen the security forces of the Palestinian Islamist movement deployed in several towns in the Gaza Strip.
This ceasefire was initiated by Donald Trump, whose plan for Gaza includes in a later phase the disarmament of Hamas and its exclusion from the governance of the Palestinian territory, where the movement took power in 2007.
After the release of the hostages, we must obtain “the demilitarization and disarmament” of Hamas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stressed on CBS on Tuesday. “Firstly, Hamas must hand over its weapons, and secondly, we must ensure that there are no weapons factories in Gaza. There must be no arms trafficking to Gaza. That is demilitarization.”
Trump said Tuesday that the United States will “disarm” Hamas if it does not do so itself. “It will happen quickly and perhaps violently,” he told reporters at the White House.
Execution of Israeli “collaborators”
After several days of clashes, witnesses reported to AFP on Tuesday of “intense” fighting in Gaza City, in the Choujaiya district (east), between a Hamas-affiliated unit and armed clans and gangs, some of which are supported by Israel.
“For many hours this morning, violent clashes took place between Hamas security forces and members of the Hilles family,” said a local resident, Mohammed, who declined to give his last name for security reasons.
The “Deterrent Force”, a body recently created within the Hamas security apparatus, “is carrying out an operation” to “neutralize the wanted people”, a Palestinian security source in Gaza told AFP.
“Our message is clear: there will be no place for outlaws or those who threaten the safety of citizens.”
Hamas has released a video showing what it describes as the execution of eight Israeli “collaborators” on the streets of Gaza City. AFP cannot immediately determine authenticity, filming date or location.
On Al-Aqsa TV’s Telegram channel, the video is accompanied by this caption: “The resistance carries out the death sentence against several collaborators and outlaws in Gaza City.”
The Gaza Civil Defense announced on Tuesday the death of six people by Israeli fire. The Israeli army said it opened fire on “suspects” approaching its forces.
The Trump plan provides, in particular, for the progressive withdrawal already underway of the Israeli army, which retains control of 53% of the Palestinian territory, as well as “an amnesty” for “members of Hamas who commit to respecting peaceful coexistence and hand over their weapons.” For others, the plan requires exile.
On Monday, during a summit on Gaza in Egypt, Donald Trump co-signed a statement aimed at cementing the ceasefire following the exchange of hostages and detainees between Israel and Hamas agreed to in the plan negotiated under the auspices of the United States, Egypt and Qatar.
“The fear has almost disappeared”
“Trump’s words are important. We hope he applies them on the ground, because he is the only one who can prevent the war from resuming,” says Rima al-Fara, 30, who lives in the partially destroyed neighborhood of al-Rimal in western Gaza.
“We can breathe again (…) the fear has almost disappeared,” he adds.
She said she felt relieved after the police deployment, because “during the war unpleasant phenomena such as robberies, assaults and armed intimidation occurred.”
In Geneva, the UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross called for the opening of all border points to allow more humanitarian aid to reach the devastated territory.
In Gaza City, where bulldozers were clearing debris on Tuesday, “the top priority,” according to Mayor Yahya al-Sarraj, is “opening the roads and there is an urgent need for construction materials, particularly cement.”
Source: BFM TV
