U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday he is unbothered by Hamas’ internal crackdown in the Gaza Strip, even as the terrorist group publicly executed suspected collaborators and rival militia members just hours after a ceasefire deal was reached.
“They did take out a couple of gangs that were very bad… and they killed a number of gang members. That didn’t bother me much, to be honest with you. That’s okay. It’s a couple of very bad gangs. It’s no different than other countries like Venezuela [that have] sent their gangs [into the U.S.],” Trump told reporters, signaling tacit approval for Hamas’ forceful reassertion of control in Gaza.
1 View gallery
US President Donald Trump; Hamas executes rival militia members in the street hours after hostage release
(Photo: AP / Carlos Osorio)
His remarks came two days after he appeared to suggest that Hamas had his “permission” to handle internal security as it sees fit, despite the violence and chaos that have followed.
Meanwhile, Trump stressed that Hamas must disarm. “They will disarm,” he said. “I spoke to Hamas, and I said, ‘You’re going to disarm, right?’ ‘Yes, sir. We’re going to disarm.’ — That’s what they told me. They will disarm or we will disarm them... They know I’m not playing games... We have told them we want them to disarm, and they will disarm. And if they don’t disarm, we will disarm them, and it’ll happen quickly and perhaps violently, but they will disarm."
Trump’s comments come amid a campaign by Hamas to reestablish dominance in post-war Gaza, despite terms in the U.S.-backed agreement that stipulate the terrorist group will no longer govern the territory. Shortly after the release of hostages this week, Hamas executed several people it accused of collaborating with Israel or participating in local armed resistance. Some of the executions were carried out in public and filmed by cheering crowds.
Hamas has stated it will not allow a security vacuum in the enclave, even as the Trump plan envisions a Gaza free of Hamas rule and arms. The group insists it will not demand formal political control, as long as governance remains in Palestinian hands rather than being imposed externally.
Homecoming for Palestinian prisoners in the Gaza Strip
Hamas is now focused inward, battling for control against local clans and armed groups it sees as threatening its authority. In what it calls an effort to “restore governance and security,” Hamas is conducting raids in neighborhoods such as Shijaiyah and pursuing rival leaders.
Ismail Tawabta, head of Gaza’s government media office, claimed Tuesday that over 70 gang members had surrendered and turned over their weapons under a general amnesty. “More than 50 gang hubs have been dismantled,” he said, adding, “We won’t allow any side to interfere with the security of the Palestinian people.”
Tawabta also said that Hamas security forces were acting against suspected collaborators with “enemy forces,” while maintaining their goal of “100% security.”
Meanwhile, local resistance figures such as Yasser Abu Shabab and Hussam al-Astal, who lead armed militias in southern Gaza, have pledged continued resistance against Hamas. In recent days, Hamas claimed to have killed a close associate of Abu Shabab and said efforts to target him directly are ongoing.
Palestinian sources told Ynet that Hamas now controls more than 90% of the areas vacated by the IDF and has reactivated police and civil defense networks, effectively restoring its de facto governance over much of the Gaza Strip.
Despite international expectations for a transition to new Palestinian leadership, Hamas continues to dominate both the ground and the media. Pro-Hamas channels have launched a public campaign to justify the executions, describing them as legitimate security operations targeting collaborators.