Hamas Executes 8 in Gaza, Accused of Being Israeli Spies

October 15, 2025

Gaza: Hamas fighters in Gaza executed eight men accused of being Israeli spies, according to multiple reports and a viral video showing the blindfolded men shot on the streets amid chants of “Allahu Akbar.”

Hamas Reasserts Control in Gaza

Since the withdrawal of Israeli forces, Hamas has been rebuilding its power in Gaza. The group has targeted local armed gangs, which reportedly became dominant during the Israeli occupation and have been accused of looting and selling relief supplies, exacerbating the ongoing famine in the region.

Hamas police have started street patrols and are using force to dismantle these gangs, according to reports.

Condemnation and Context

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the executions, calling them “wrong and unlawful.”

Palestinian analyst Abdelhadi Alijala noted that Gaza lacks functioning courts or laws, making violence a frequent reality after two years of constant bombing and instability.

Experts cited by the BBC say that Hamas has deployed thousands of troops in Gaza, and if the current ceasefire continues, the group could take complete control of Gaza within weeks.

Hamas Returns Some Hostage Bodies to Israel

On Tuesday, Hamas handed over four more Israeli hostages’ bodies to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) through the Red Cross. Israel confirmed the identities of Tamir Nimrodi, Etan Levy, and Uriel Baruch.

One of the bodies, however, was reportedly a Palestinian from Gaza, not an Israeli hostage.

So far, Hamas has returned eight bodies out of 28 promised under the ceasefire deal, with the remains of more than 20 hostages still believed to be inside Gaza.

Israel’s Prime Minister’s Office demanded Hamas fulfill its commitments immediately, stating:

“We will not compromise until the bodies of all hostages are brought home.”

Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said the group is working on returning the remaining bodies as part of its obligations under the ceasefire.