Public Executions of Alleged Israeli Collaborators in Gaza City
Disturbing footage has emerged depicting the public executions of three men accused of being Israeli collaborators in Gaza City. The executions took place in a public area, reportedly near the Shifa hospital, which is currently the focus of a major Israeli military offensive. This incident highlights the ongoing conflict and internal tensions within Gaza.
Details of the Executions
Videos circulating online show several armed and masked men standing over three blindfolded Palestinian men kneeling on the ground. A large crowd witnessed the event. One of the gunmen announced, "The death sentence has been decided for all collaborators." Cheers erupted from the crowd before the men were shot multiple times in the head. Following the executions, the crowd praised Hamas's armed wing, the Qassam Brigades.
A Palestinian security official from the Hamas-run Gaza government told Reuters that the executions were carried out by the "Joint Operations Room of the Palestinian resistance." This incident is considered a rare instance of a public execution being captured on video in Gaza. There have been previous reports of Hamas using violence against dissenters. In May, Hamas-led groups reportedly executed four Palestinians for looting aid trucks.
Context of the Executions
The executions come amidst ongoing tensions and conflict in the region. In the footage, one armed man identified Yasser Abu Shabab as a "major collaborator" targeted for assassination. Abu Shabab is reportedly a key figure in a clan allegedly armed by the Israeli government and operating in Rafah, an area under Israeli military control. The group has presented itself as an opposition force to Hamas.
In July, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that Israel was arming clans in Gaza opposed to Hamas. However, Yasser Abu Shabab has publicly denied receiving weapons from Israel. That same month, a senior officer in Hamas's security forces stated that the group had lost significant control over the Gaza Strip, with armed clans filling the power vacuum. Abu Shabab's group has been actively recruiting members via social media.
International Reactions and Ongoing Conflict
The executions occurred shortly after the UK, Australia, and Canada announced their recognition of a Palestinian state, a move condemned by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as "an absurd prize for terrorism." The Israeli military continues to operate in Gaza City, stating they have "dismantled military infrastructure used by Hamas" and killed a Hamas cell. Their objectives include freeing hostages and defeating remaining Hamas fighters. The offensive has drawn international condemnation, particularly considering the dire humanitarian situation affecting civilians in Gaza City.
A spokeswoman for the UN's humanitarian office described the situation in Gaza City as "cataclysmic," noting the constant stream of Palestinians fleeing south while hundreds of thousands remain. The Israeli military campaign in Gaza was launched in response to the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. Since then, at least 65,344 people have been killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry.
