Hamas public execution in Gaza: three alleged collaborators killed as international tensions rise

GAZA CITY — A group of Hamas militants publicly executed three Palestinians accused of collaborating with Israel in a crowded Gaza square, according to footage circulated on Hamas-linked channels. The victims were blindfolded, kneeling with hands bound behind their backs, as a crowd gathered and chanted “Allahu Akbar.” A gunman told spectators that the men were “collaborators who betrayed their homeland” and “extended a hand to the occupation to kill their people.” The three were shot in the head and upper body with automatic rifles, and there were reports that handwritten notes were placed on the bodies bearing threats against traitors. Footage circulated on Hamas-aligned platforms showed multiple masked gunmen standing over the three captives while hundreds watched and filmed the public execution in what appeared to be a town square. Independent verification of the specific event could not be confirmed immediately, but the footage aligned with previous public executions carried out by armed groups in Gaza in the wake of the conflict that escalated on Oct. 7, 2023.

The episode, which also involved other factions allied with Hamas, was described by one of the gunmen in the footage as an act against those who betrayed their homeland and joined the occupying power to kill Palestinians. The public nature of the killing and the presence of spectators highlight the political and social dynamism in Gaza amid the ongoing war, even as international concern over civilian suffering continues to mount.

In parallel with the incident, international diplomacy moved forward with the recognition of a Palestinian state by the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada announced over the weekend. UK opposition leader Keir Starmer issued a video statement urging persistence toward a peace process and a two-state solution, while he had previously indicated he would recognize a Palestinian state if Israel did not take substantive steps to ease the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and pursue a durable, sustainable peace. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the move, calling it an “absurd prize for terrorism” and reaffirming that Israel would not accept a Palestinian state west of the Jordan River. He said he would respond to what he called an attempt to impose a “terror state” upon Israel upon his return from the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

The humanitarian toll in Gaza remained dire. The Hamas-run Gaza health ministry said at least 71 people were killed and 304 were wounded in Israeli attacks during the prior 24 hours. The United Nations and aid organizations have described deepening catastrophe in Gaza, citing widespread destruction of infrastructure, collapsing health and sanitation systems, and a famine declared by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC). The UN has warned of a potential genocide, while Israel has rejected those assessments as distorted and false, arguing that it is conducting a military campaign against Hamas and accusing it of looting aid and exploiting humanitarian channels.

Overall, the death toll in Gaza has climbed into the tens of thousands since the war began, with the Hamas-run health ministry reporting roughly 64,964 Palestinians killed, including a high proportion of women and children and extensive displacement across the enclave. Israel has acknowledged heavy civilian casualties but has disputed the framing of a famine or genocide, pointing to aid flows and military objectives against Hamas. The fighting has forced hundreds of thousands of Gazans to flee their homes, and most of Gaza’s roughly three million residents have been displaced from their communities.

In addition to battlefield casualties, the war has produced a volatile hostage crisis. Hamas’ armed wing released a video earlier this month showing an Israeli-German hostage, Alon Ohel, alive and speaking to Prime Minister Netanyahu about negotiating for the release of captives. Ohel, 24, was abducted during the Hamas attack on Israel’s Oct. 7 assault at the Supernova music festival and was later shown in at least one other video released by Hamas’ Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades. The status of hostages remains unclear, but Hamas has publicly linked the fate of captives to the broader political and military dynamics in the region.

International observers have noted the widening rifts in the region as more countries consider recognizing a Palestinian state amid Israel’s ongoing campaign in Gaza. While some European states such as France, Portugal and Belgium have signaled consideration of state recognition ahead of a forthcoming summit, Israel has pressed Western allies to withhold recognition unless tangible steps toward a ceasefire, humanitarian access, and a durable peace agreement are demonstrated. The international community continues to urge de-escalation and a path back to negotiations, even as the fighting and accusations continue to shape the crisis.

The conflict’s timeline remains deeply unsettled. Since the Hamas-led attack on Oct. 7, 2023, and the subsequent Israeli counteroffensive, the region has endured a staggering loss of life and a collapse of essential services in Gaza. The death toll cited by the Gaza health ministry has risen steadily, while aid agencies warn that essential medical care, water, electricity, and food supplies are severely constrained. Israel has emphasized military objectives against Hamas while contending with international pressure to minimize civilian casualties, and the broader regional and geopolitical implications continue to reverberate across global diplomacy and humanitarian policy.

As the situation evolves, Western capitals watch closely for new developments surrounding potential state recognition, prisoner exchanges, and the prospect of renewed negotiations toward a two-state framework. For many, the events underscore the fragility of a long-sought peace process and the enduring humanitarian consequences of the region’s deepest and most enduring conflict.