Disarmament

Hamas Deploys Armed Fighters in Gaza Amid Ceasefire, Raises Concerns Over Disarmament

Strategic Insights

Oct 12, 2025 — 2 min read

Palestinian Islamist group Hamas has started deploying armed fighters and police across parts of Gaza in an apparent attempt to reassert its authority in the devastated territory after the ceasefire deal with Israel last week. The move has raised significant concerns over the disarmament of Hamas, a key provision of the deal, and the challenges that will confront the new stabilisation force of regional troops deployed to Gaza.

Images of Hamas fighters at a hospital in southern Gaza during the release of Israeli hostages on Monday morning have sparked reports of shootings and executions elsewhere in the territory. Telegram channels associated with Hamas have targeted "collaborators and traitors," a reference to Israel-backed militias in the territory, while Hamas gunmen have clashed with a local family in Gaza City over the weekend. The violence is unlikely to immediately threaten the current ceasefire agreement with Israel.

Key Takeaways:

Hamas has started deploying armed fighters and police across parts of Gaza in an apparent attempt to reassert its authority, raising concerns over disarmament and the new stabilisation force.
The move has sparked reports of shootings and executions, with Telegram channels targeting "collaborators and traitors," a reference to Israel-backed militias.
Hamas gunmen have engaged in clashes with a local family in Gaza City over the weekend, highlighting the collapse of law and order in the territory.
The US president, Donald Trump, has suggested that Hamas is acting within the parameters of the ceasefire deal, but the group's actions raise significant concerns over the disarmament provision.
The Israeli Defense Forces have already withdrawn to new positions, controlling just over half of Gaza, while much of the territory is in ruins, with the population concentrated along the coastal zone of al-Mawasi.
Hamas has suffered significant losses during the two-year conflict with Israel, with most of its senior or middle-ranking military commanders and thousands of lower-ranking fighters killed.
Police officers were targeted by Israel and prisons destroyed, while law and order has collapsed across much of Gaza, with armed families, clans, gangs, and militia growing more powerful.
The leader of a new militia aligned with Israel has called for Hamas leaders to repent, suggesting a power struggle in the territory.

Statistics:

20 living hostages were released by Hamas and transferred to Israel, while Israeli authorities began freeing about 2,000 prisoners, including 250 serving lengthy sentences.
Hundreds of trucks of aid and commercial goods have entered Gaza since Sunday, sending prices in markets tumbling.
Famine was declared in parts of the territory in August, and aid agencies say much greater quantities of supplies are needed urgently.
The Israel Defense Forces have withdrawn to new positions, controlling just over half of Gaza.
Thousands of Hamas fighters have been killed during the two-year conflict with Israel.

Sources:

"Hamas has started deploying armed fighters and police across parts of Gaza in an apparent attempt to reassert its authority, raising concerns over disarmament and the new stabilisation force."