Gazan sources report that Hamas executed four alleged collaborators before dawn in Gaza City, in what appears to be a warning ahead of planned public activity by anti-Hamas opponents in the Strip.
According to the reports, the executions came just days before June 26, when opponents of Hamas are planning to hold public actions in Gaza. The timing is significant. Hamas appears to be using the executions not only as punishment, but also as intimidation against anyone considering open defiance of its rule.
At the same time, Hamas supporters are amplifying statements from local mukhtars in Gaza who publicly oppose the planned anti-Hamas activity. This suggests a coordinated effort to create public pressure against the protest organizers while sending a clear message that dissent could carry a heavy price.
The reports point to a growing internal struggle inside Gaza. While Hamas continues to present itself as the sole representative of the Palestinians in the Strip, opposition voices are trying to emerge in public. Hamas, in response, is turning to fear, local pressure and public messaging to prevent that challenge from gaining momentum.