Hamas Asserts Control in Gaza as Trump Vows to Disarm the Militant Group

Strategic Insights -

Trump's 20-point plan to establish peace in the Middle East, which was announced last night, includes Hamas disarming and its leaders leaving Gaza to allow a "board of peace" headed by the US president to oversee governance. Meanwhile, Hamas has been seen executing suspected collaborators in Gaza, with at least 33 people killed by the group's "deterrence force" as it seized militia positions in Gaza City. Analysts have expressed concern at how quickly Hamas has moved to fill the vacuum left by withdrawing Israeli forces and how it has been able to purge rival groups and clans.

Key Takeaways:

  • Trump's 20-point plan for peace in the Middle East includes Hamas disarming and its leaders leaving Gaza, with a "board of peace" headed by the US president to oversee governance.
  • Hamas has been executing suspected collaborators in Gaza, with at least 33 people killed by the group's "deterrence force" as it seized militia positions in Gaza City.
  • Analysts have expressed concern at how quickly Hamas has moved to fill the vacuum left by withdrawing Israeli forces and how it has been able to purge rival groups and clans.
  • Badr Abdelatty, the Egyptian foreign minister, said that a 15-member Palestinian technocratic committee had been selected to administer postwar Gaza and that all names had been vetted by Israel and approved by all Palestinian factions, including Hamas.
  • Hamas members have accepted the plan and will "have no role in the transitional period", according to Abdelatty.
  • Elliott Abrams, senior fellow for Middle Eastern studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, expressed concern at the lack of law and order in Gaza, stating that "there is chaos now, because in the part of Gaza where Israel has pulled back there is no government".
  • Hamas has killed at least seven captives who were bound and kneeling since the partial withdrawal of Israeli troops.
  • Trump stated that "If Hamas don't disarm we will disarm them... and it'll happen quickly and perhaps violently... they know I'm not playing games".

Statistics:

  • At least 33 people were killed by Hamas' "deterrence force" as it seized "militia" positions in Gaza City.
  • Seven captives were killed by Hamas.
  • 20 living hostages were returned to Israel.
  • Hamas returned only eight bodies out of the suspected 28 captives who died during or since the October 7, 2023 attacks.

Sources:

  • US President Trump (via Truth Social)
  • Trump's 20-point plan for peace in the Middle East (article)
  • Badr Abdelatty, Egyptian foreign minister
  • Elliott Abrams, senior fellow for Middle Eastern studies at the Council on Foreign Relations
  • Hazem Qassem, Hamas spokesman
  • Israel Defence Forces (IDF) spokesman
  • Palestinian media reports