Hours after a landmark ceasefire deal ended the two-year Israel-Hamas war, masked Hamas gunmen dragged eight badly beaten, blindfolded Palestinian men into a crowded square in Gaza City’s al-Sabra neighborhood and shot them dead one by one in front of cheering crowds.
The peace treaty, signed earlier that day in Egypt’s Sharm El-Sheikh by Trump and leaders from over 20 nations (Netanyahu notably absent), included:
- Release of 20 living Israeli hostages and bodies of the deceased by Hamas.
- Israel freeing 1,700 Palestinian detainees and 250 life-sentence prisoners.
- Gradual IDF withdrawal from Gaza cities.
- Increased humanitarian aid.
- Phase 2: Hamas disarmament with amnesty for those committing to peace.
Yet, as Israeli troops pulled back, a weakened Hamas swiftly reasserted dominance over rival clans (like the Doghmush family) that flourished amid the chaos of war. The executions targeted alleged “collaborators,” “criminals,” and “looters” — part of a broader crackdown killing at least 33 people.
BBC- and CNN-verified footage shows the men kneeling, hands bound, before point-blank shootings. One victim: Ahmad Zidan al-Tarabin, accused of recruiting for anti-Hamas militias.
Still from verified video of Hamas public executions in Gaza City on October 13, 2025 (graphic content warning).
Trump’s response: He initially greenlit Hamas’ “temporary” internal policing on Air Force One, saying they were “taking out very bad gangs” and it “didn’t bother” him. But Tuesday, he hardened: “Hamas must disarm or we will disarm them — perhaps violently.”
Human rights groups slammed the killings as extrajudicial murders breaching international law. Israel’s Foreign Ministry shared the video, insisting: “Hamas must go.” Clashes continue, clouding the truce’s future.
