Hamas expands its reach in Gaza as the ceasefire takes hold
The ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas last week had been hailed as a potential turning point for a zone long scarred by conflict. Yet early signs suggest Hamas is using the period of relative quiet to reassert control in multiple Gaza districts, deploying armed fighters and police to key sites after the release of hostages and the transfer of prisoners.
Images from southern Gaza showed dozens of Hamas fighters gathered around a hospital during the final stage of a hostage handover, while reports of shootings and executions emerged from other parts of the territory. In some cases, the actions were framed by Hamas-linked channels as a crackdown on collaborators, a term that refers to individuals linked with rival or Israel-backed forces already operating in Gaza. The violence underscores the fragility of the ceasefire and the difficulty of disarming a group that still commands substantial local influence.
Experts caution that these developments are not an immediate threat to the ceasefire’s framework, but they underline the challenges about stabilizing Gaza. A central, ambiguous provision of the agreement is Hamas’s disarmament, a condition that remains largely ill-defined and difficult to monitor in a territory shattered by years of conflict and a two-year war that strained the group’s leadership and fighting units.
Security forces and local power dynamics in Gaza
With much of Gaza’s law and order broken, armed families, clans, and rival militias have gained influence in the power vacuum left by destroyed institutions. The weekend clashes with a powerful local family in Gaza City demonstrated that even as authorities attempt to project control, non-state actors retain significant leverage in daily life, security, and governance. A new stabilisation force—comprising regional troops—was designed to help manage security and aid distribution, but questions remain about who ultimately governs and how rapidly arms can be decommissioned.
The Gaza interior ministry, long controlled by Hamas, publicly signaled a campaign to restore security and “stability,” while offering a path to “repentance and general amnesty” for those who joined non-violent factions. This approach signals an effort to integrate certain factions back into formal security structures, yet it also leaves open the risk that militant remnants will exploit the transition window to reassert influence or settle scores.
Humanitarian relief and lived realities in the crackdown environment
Aid convoys and commercial goods began moving again into Gaza, easing some price pressures in local markets. However, aid workers warn that the territory remains acutely vulnerable to famine-like conditions, with many residents dependent on humanitarian relief that is stretched across a population of about two million. Access remains intertwined with security control, and looting or disputes over channels for aid distribution could hinder relief efforts regardless of the political climate.
Analysts emphasize that the ceasefire’s long-term success hinges on credible progress toward disarmament and the establishment of predictable, accountable governance that can withstand shocks. The road ahead involves coordinating between Hamas’s security apparatus, the new stabilization forces, and international partners delivering humanitarian assistance—all while preventing a relapse into the violence that displaced thousands and destroyed livelihoods.
International reaction and what comes next
Questions persist about how the United States and regional powers will respond to Hamas’s re-emergence as a controlling actor in Gaza’s security landscape. President Donald Trump, addressing questions about Hamas’s actions in relation to the ceasefire, described the situation as a balance of permitting a period of calm while recognizing the potential for renewed violence. The next weeks will test whether the action on the ground translates into durable order or simply a fragile pause amid competing claims to legitimacy.
As aid distributions resume and hostages re-enter the humanitarian equation, the international community will be watching how Gaza’s political factions navigate the new security order. The coming days and weeks will determine whether the ceasefire can translate into genuine stability or merely a pause before renewed confrontation.
