Nach Waffenstillstand: Hamas geht brutal gegen Opposition im Gazastreifen vor

Kaum schweigen die Waffen, kommen die Kämpfer der Hamas aus ihren Tunneln und beginnen jede Form von Dissidenz in Gaza zu unterdrücken. Seth J. Frantzman berichtet für die Jpost:

Hamas appears to be preparing to exact vengeance on those opposed to its rule in Gaza. This will come in the form of mafia-like murders of those Hamas claims are “collaborators.” It will target clans and groups that have shown opposition to Hamas. It will also target those that have worked with Israel, or who it accuses of working with Israel.

A Telegram channel linked to Hamas said the group would target “collaborators.”

The BBC reported that Hamas has called up some 7,000 fighters to assert its control. Hamas recruited during the war even as it took losses. It may have lost many of its commanders, but it has appointed new commanders to various cells, platoons, companies, battalions and brigades.

Hamas has long used mafia-like gangland tactics to keep people in check in Gaza. This goes back to how the group emerged in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Hamas leaders such as Yahya Sinwar were known for brutally murdering “collaborators” back then. Sinwar is dead but his tactics live on. Hamas has lost a lot of its larger weapons but it retains AK-47s and can use them to murder people. Videos have already emerged of Hamas allegedly murdering people.

Khaled Abu Toameh, an expert and journalist who has covered Palestinian affairs for decades, wrote on social media that “Hamas security forces have arrested dozens of suspected collaborators and anti-Hamas clan members since the ceasefire went into effect. Many are expected to be executed, according to Palestinian sources.” (...)

Hamas will want to settle scores and also show that it is still in control. Hamas will not remain in the shadows, it is already deploying men with AK-47s in areas of Gaza. It will want to show that it still has a mafia-like grip on power. It won’t want any of the various clans, tribes and militias to get any ideas. It will want to cement itself in power before any new interim administration is appointed. Then it will hand a fait accompli to anyone who thinks they can remove Hamas from Gaza."