After the ceasefire in Gaza, many residents say their fears are confirmed: Hamas appears unwilling to disarm, and reports have emerged that the group is carrying out deadly reprisals against Palestinians accused of dissent.
One Gaza activist told reporters that as soon as Israel’s military aircraft pulled back, Hamas began executing civilians—dragging people from their homes, shooting them in the streets without trial, and accusing them of collaborating with Israel. These accusations, the activist said, often lack evidence and serve to suppress opposition.
A former Gaza resident, who says he survived torture by Hamas, warned that the group is reasserting full control across Gaza, acting as police, militia, and government all at once. He described a climate of terror, saying many Gazans live in fear of being watched, reported, or targeted simply for speaking out.
Despite promises under a U.S.-brokered peace deal that Hamas would give up its weapons and usher in a new interim government, the activist and others claim little has changed. They warn of renewed violence and say Hamas is positioning itself to justify its continued rule in the name of “security.”
In their view, without total disarmament and structural change, Gaza risks sliding back into authoritarian control—where peace remains illusory for ordinary residents.