Gazans Fear Hamas Will Break Peace Deal as Massacre Footage Surfaces
A fragile ceasefire and President Trump’s peace plan were meant to remake Gaza’s future. Instead, many Gazans now fear Hamas will ignore the deal and keep using violence. From a Republican perspective, the plan offered tough conditions and a real chance to end militant rule.
New footage that surfaced after the ceasefire shows brutal public killings, and it has locals terrified. “Hamas executed civilians in front of people’s eyes,” the person reportedly said, describing what neighbors watched on the streets. Those images make promises from militants feel hollow to people who wanted peace.
Residents say the roundups began as soon as Israel’s military pulled back after the Oct. 8 ceasefire was announced. “From the first moment the Israeli planes disappeared from the sky, Hamas began punishing the families,” an anonymous Gazan activist said. People describe arrests, threats and swift executions of anyone accused of cooperating with Israel.
The broader requires Hamas to permanently disarm, yet local videos make it clear the group hasn’t stopped policing Gaza with fear. That gap between written commitments and reality is what keeps ordinary Gazans awake at night. A peace plan means little if militants enforce order at gunpoint.
Survivors and witnesses tell the same chilling story of mercy denied and summary killings: “No names, no confessions — nothing. Just death.” Those short sentences, echoed across neighborhoods, have a brutal finality.
Voices from Gaza stress they are not speaking for Hamas: “The world needs to understand that Gazans are not Hamas,” activist Amin Abed said. He urged outsiders to separate civilians from militants and repeated, “We want peace, not war. But every time we speak out, Hamas kills us first.”
Independent counting and local reports suggest up to about 33 people were executed after the ceasefire took hold, according to reporting that cites Gaza sources. That figure reflects a rapid reassertion of control by a group that has ruled Gaza since 2007 by force. For Gazans who hoped a new governing committee could take over, the numbers are a stark warning.
President Donald J. Trump’s Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict:
1. Gaza will be a deradicalized terror-free zone that does not pose a threat to its neighbors.
2. Gaza will be redeveloped for the benefit of the people of Gaza, who have suffered more than enough.
3. If… pic.twitter.com/veqhr9MW28
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) September 29, 2025
Hamas-affiliated social channels posted graphic footage that appears to show eight blindfolded people shot in public, footage that provoked outrage across the region. The group justified those killings in a statement, calling the targets “wanted individuals and outlaws.” Such public displays underline why many distrust promises from militant leaders.
As part of the ceasefire exchange, Hamas released all 20 of its living hostages on Monday, a move that some see as a hopeful step after the October 7, 2023 attacks that started the conflict. But a peaceful swap of prisoners and hostages is fragile when armed groups still patrol the streets. Gazans who returned to their homes are watching both sides closely.
However, Israel the group on Wednesday, accusing it of withholding one of its deceased hostages and saying one of the bodies returned “does not match any of the hostages.” That dispute threatens to reopen tensions and complicates what should have been a straightforward exchange. Questions about identification and compliance make verification a security priority.
Israel, meanwhile, has freed roughly 1,900 Palestinian prisoners in the exchanges tied to the ceasefire. Those releases are part of a broader bargaining process that seeks to end years of bloodletting. Critics warn that simply swapping detainees won’t fix the underlying power problem in Gaza.
Trump’s multi-phase peace plan calls for replacing militant rule with “a technocratic, apolitical Palestinian committee” to run Gaza in the near term. That idea aims to remove political fighters from day-to-day control while a new order is built. Supporters argue it could break the cycle of armed governance that has harmed civilians.
President Trump made it plain he expects disarmament and warned of consequences if militants refuse. “Well, they’re going to disarm, because they said they were going to disarm,” he said, “And if they don’t disarm, we will disarm them.” He added, “They know I’m not playing games,” and left no doubt the U.S. under his plan sees enforcement as essential.
Darnell Thompkins is a Canadian-born American and conservative opinion writer who brings a unique perspective to political and cultural discussions. Passionate about traditional values and individual freedoms, Darnell’s commentary reflects his commitment to fostering meaningful dialogue. When he’s not writing, he enjoys watching hockey and celebrating the sport that connects his Canadian roots with his American journey.