Hamas Launches Crackdown in Gaza as Trump Vows to Disarm the Group

Hamas has intensified its control over the devastated cities of Gaza, launching a sweeping crackdown on alleged collaborators and executing several suspects, even as US President Donald Trump vowed to disarm the Palestinian group.

The move came amid efforts to uphold a US-brokered ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, now in its fifth day, and as Israel confirmed the repatriation of four more hostage remains from Gaza.

blindfolded suspects, described as “collaborators and outlaws.”
The footage, reportedly filmed on Monday evening, surfaced as armed confrontations erupted between Hamas security forces and Palestinian clans in several parts of Gaza.

Witnesses described heavy gunfire and explosions as Hamas’s security units, known for their black masks, resumed patrols across northern Gaza following the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza City.

“Intense clashes broke out — and are still ongoing — as part of efforts to eliminate collaborators,”
said a local witness, Yahya, who withheld his full name for safety reasons.

A Gaza resident named Mohammed added: “For long hours this morning, there were heavy clashes between Hamas forces and members of the Hilles family. We heard explosions and saw arrests. We support this.”

A Palestinian security source confirmed to AFP that a newly established Hamas unit, the “Deterrence Force,” was spearheading operations to restore order.

“Our message is clear: there will be no place for outlaws or those who threaten citizens’ security,”
the source declared.

The ongoing operations targeted armed clans and gangs, some of whom were accused by Hamas of receiving Israeli support.

Since seizing control of Gaza in 2007 after routing rival faction Fatah, Hamas has maintained its position as the dominant Palestinian authority.
However, Israel and the United States insist that Hamas must be fully disarmed and excluded from any future governance in Gaza.

President Donald Trump, speaking at the White House after a Middle East visit celebrating the ceasefire, warned:

“If they don’t disarm, we will disarm them.
And it will happen quickly — and perhaps violently.”

His 20-point “Gaza Reconstruction and Security Plan”, endorsed by global leaders at a Trump-chaired summit in Egypt on Monday, stipulates that:

Despite the tension, many Palestinians expressed relief at the reappearance of Hamas’s armed police, viewing them as a symbol of restored order after months of chaos.

“After the war ended and the police returned to the streets, we started to feel safe again,”
said Abu Fadi Al-Banna, 34, in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza.

Similarly, Hamdiya Shammiya, 40, displaced from her home in northern Gaza to Khan Yunis, shared:

“Thank God the war is finally over. We’ve started to breathe again.”

While Hamas consolidated control, Israel’s military announced that the remains of four additional hostages were brought into Israel, following a similar handover of four bodies and the release of 20 living captives the previous day.

Those identified include:

Sharabi’s wife, Nira, said through the Families Forum campaign group: “Now we can finally bring closure to the nightmare that began over two years ago and give Yossi the dignified burial he deserves.”

Under the Trump-brokered deal, Hamas must return all hostages — living and deceased.
However, 24 bodies are still believed to be held in Gaza, prompting mounting public pressure in Israel.

In Tel Aviv, hundreds gathered to celebrate the release of surviving hostages but urged officials to continue efforts for those still missing.

“I don’t know what to feel — it’s unbelievable to see the living hostages return, but it’s unbearable knowing others remain,”
said Barak Cohen, a demonstrator at Hostages Square.

On Monday, Trump travelled to Jerusalem to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, describing the ceasefire as a “historic step towards peace.” Later in Egypt, he joined regional leaders to sign a declaration aimed at cementing the truce.

As Gaza’s skies fell silent after two years of war, the enclave entered a new and uncertain phase — one marked by fragile peace, internal purges, and foreign-imposed disarmament.
For many Palestinians, the presence of Hamas police signals stability; for Israel and the United States, it remains the final obstacle to lasting peace.