Hamas launches Gaza crackdown

HAMAS tightened its grip on Gaza’s ruined cities this week, launching a crackdown and executing alleged collaborators, even as US President Donald Trump vowed to disarm the group.

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The Israeli military said the remains of four more hostages held in Gaza had been brought into Israel, a day after Hamas handed over the bodies of four other captives and released the last 20 surviving hostages.

Hamas published a video on its official channel showing the street execution of eight blindfolded and kneeling suspects, branding them “collaborators and outlaws”.

The footage, apparently from Monday evening, emerged as armed clashes were underway between Hamas’ various security units and armed Palestinian clans in parts of the territory, on the fifth day of a US-brokered truce between Hamas and Israel.

In the north of the territory, as Israeli forces withdrew from Gaza City, the Hamas government's black-masked armed police have resumed street patrols.

When busloads of prisoners freed from Israeli jails arrived in Gaza this week, fighters from Hamas's Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades provided crowd control.

Meanwhile, a Hamas security unit has been conducting operations against armed clans and gangs, some alleged to have Israeli backing.

“Intense clashes broke out - and are still ongoing at the moment - as part of efforts to eliminate collaborators,” said witness Yahya, who asked not to be named in full for fear of retribution.