Now that peace is in sight, tensions are rising again and Hamas has announced that, contrary to what was said at the negotiating table, it has no intention of disarming.
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On the contrary, they already seem to want to take power in areas from which they were driven out by the Israeli army. Now that those Israeli troops have withdrawn in the name of peace, Hamas is trying to regain control.
The Palestinian terror group has already appointed five new governors, all with military backgrounds. Some of them had previously led brigades within Hamas's armed wing.
Mobilization order to 'clean up Gaza'
The mobilization order was reportedly issued via phone calls and text messages. It stated that the goal was to"cleanse Gaza of criminals and collaborators with Israel." Terrorists were told to report within 24 hours, according to the BBC.
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Reports from Gaza suggest that armed Hamas units have already been deployed in several districts. Some are wearing civilian clothes, while others are wearing the blue uniforms of the Gaza police.
Tensions were already running high on Saturday after two members of Hamas's elite forces were shot dead by gunmen from the powerful Dughmush clan in the Sabra neighborhood of Gaza City.
One of them was the son of a senior commander in Hamas's armed wing, Imad Aqel, who now heads the group's military intelligence service. Their bodies were left in the street, sparking anger and the prospect of a large-scale armed response from Hamas.
Hamas terrorists later surrounded a large area where more than 300 Dughmush militiamen were believed to be hiding, armed with machine guns and homemade explosives. On Saturday morning, Hamas also killed a member of the Dughmush clan and reportedly kidnapped another 30.
Guns are legitimate
In Gaza, as well as in Israel, there is eager anticipation regarding the recent developments and how they will evolve. A senior Hamas representative confirmed through official channels on Saturday that the remaining Israeli hostages will be released starting Monday morning, as agreed in the peace plan.
Earlier in the day, however, a spokesperson for the extremist organization had also said that Hamas will not simply allow itself to be disarmed, which was also one of the conditions in US President Donald Trump's plan.
A Hamas official abroad declined to comment directly on the reports of the security deployment and the laying down of weapons, but told the BBC:"We cannot leave Gaza at the mercy of thieves and militias supported by the Israeli occupation. Our weapons are legitimate... to resist the occupation, and they will remain as long as the occupation continues."
Hamas has not changed
"Hamas hasn't changed. It still believes that weapons and violence are the only means to keep its movement alive," an anonymous source told the BBC."This is the perfect recipe for civil war: weapons, frustration, chaos, and a movement desperately trying to regain control over a divided and exhausted population."
According to Khalil Abu Shammala, a human rights expert living in Gaza, it remains to be seen whether Hamas is even willing to hand over power or whether it will try to thwart the plan's implementation.
The new developments since the ceasefire announced earlier this week have also caused great concern among ordinary citizens of Gaza, who have been suffering from a devastating conflict for two years.
They hoped that the announced ceasefire would finally end the war and that aid would soon be allowed back into the area. Many are at their wits' end, and thousands of Palestinians have already starved to death.
The United States hasn't yet responded, but Trump is clear: it's a matter of choice for the Palestinians. If Hamas doesn't hold back, it faces total collapse.
