Hamas has regained de facto control over the Strip

As most Israelis expected, the Trump deal has given Hamas the opportunity to regain control of the Gaza Strip. Israeli intelligence and security assessments indicate that Hamas has regained control of the Gaza Strip after the recent ceasefire and hostage deal was implemented. As per the agreement, Israeli troops withdrew from urban areas and suspended combat operations against the terror group.

Hamas has resumed many of its pre-October 7 governing functions, including collecting taxes from residents, operating municipal services, and violently suppressing any opposition to its rule, Hebrew-language Channel 13 reported.

Numerous videos emerging from Gaza show Hamas terrorists publicly executing and torturing members of local clans accused of collaborating with Israel or attempting to establish an alternative administration in the territory.

“Hamas operatives are on the ground, and naturally they’ll rule,” a Gaza resident using the pseudonym Salah told The Times of Israel. Salah added that most Gazans oppose Hamas’ rule but “feel there is a vacuum; there is no one to enter and replace them.”

Israeli diplomat Jeremy Issacharoff told ILTV that the United States is “very concerned” about Hamas’ delay in implementing Phase Two of the Trump-brokered ceasefire agreement, which requires the group to disarm and allow an alternative governing force to be established.

Hamas claims it does not know the whereabouts of the remaining 13 hostage bodies — including two foreign nationals and five IDF soldiers — but Israeli officials believe the terror group is strategically withholding the remains as a bargaining chip.

Returning all the bodies is a precondition for advancing to the next stage of the ceasefire deal.

Issacharoff said Hamas is using the time it claims to be searching for the bodies to strengthen its control over Gaza.

“I think the prime minister would want to see clear indications from America that she’s intending to pressure all the parties involved — including not just Hamas, but also Turkey and Qatar — in order to pressure Hamas more to complete the first phase of the withdrawal,” Issacharoff told ILTV.

Channel 14 reported that Israeli defense officials estimate Hamas still commands about 20,000 fighters and possesses hundreds of rockets. Despite two years of warfare, more than half of Hamas’ underground tunnel network is believed to remain intact.

Once again it appears that Israel is never allowed to win a war against Hamas. Any ceasefire is seen by Hamas as a "Hudna", a respite in order to rebuild and fight again in the future.

Military intelligence officials warned that Hamas has taken advantage of the truce to rebuild its capabilities in the Strip, reopening tunnel networks, restoring damaged weapons, recruiting new terrorists and reorganizing its leadership. The officials said these developments demonstrate that Hamas has no intention of disarming or relinquishing power.