Hamas Official Defends Executions Amid U.S. Warning
Mohamed Nazar, a senior official with Hamas, defended the group’s recent mass executions of Palestinian civilians after President Donald Trump issued a stern warning that Hamas’s actions could lead to their total destruction. Nazar, part of the Hamas Politburo, described public executions as an “exceptional measure” for “criminals.” He dismissed claims that Hamas was merely eliminating opponents to maintain control in Gaza, despite a cease-fire agreement outlining that the group would not be involved in post-war governance.
“This is a transition period. In the civilian world, as I said, there will be a technocratic government. On the ground, there will be Hamas,” he stated, casting doubt on whether Hamas would actually disarm as the ceasefire agreement mandated.
“I can’t give you a yes or no answer,” he admitted. “It really depends on the nature of the project. What does disarmament mean? To whom will the weapons be handed over?” This uncertainty underscores Hamas leadership’s stance that they aim to rebuild Gaza rather than merely conclude a ceasefire and rearm.
“The objective is not to prepare for future wars,” he asserted. In contrast, Trump has been clear that any deviation from the ceasefire terms would spell disaster for Hamas. He emphasized that if Hamas continues its violence in Gaza, it would lead to their eradication, as mentioned in a recent post on Truth Social.
Witnesses from Gaza have reported that Hamas’s actions extend beyond a few arrests and executions of “criminals” to larger-scale killings of political opponents. According to Moumen al-Natur, a lawyer and former political prisoner of Hamas, the group emerged from hiding to attack protesting families, signaling their resurgence.
Other groups, such as the Abu Shabab militia and the Dagmas clan, have begun resisting Hamas after a week marked by kidnappings and executions. “These militias have roots among the people, and they need acknowledgment and coordination to form a political collective that can govern these areas and manage security,” al-Natur explained.
In a critique, Ynet News columnist Amihai Atari noted disturbing scenes of civilians, including children, reportedly cheering during Hamas executions. “While many rational parents work to protect their children from the harsh realities of the world, Gazans are bringing their kids to witness and experience this violence firsthand,” he pointed out, contrasting different approaches to parenting in the region.
