Hamas Executes at Least Six Palestinians Amid Protests, Accuses Victims of "Collaboration"
Palestinian activists call out Hamas' executions of civilians and criticize the silence of global human rights organizations.
In a disturbing turn of events, Hamas has executed at least six Palestinian civilians amid ongoing anti-war demonstrations in Gaza, accusing them of collaboration with Israel. Among the victims is 22-year-old Palestinian activist Odai Nasser Saadi Al-Rubai, whose kidnapping, torture, and execution have sparked outrage in Gaza and international Palestinian communities.
Brutal Execution of Odai Nasser Saadi Al-Rubai
The young activist Odai Nasser Saadi Al-Rubai was reportedly kidnapped by Hamas security forces yesterday due to his role in the protests against Hamas rule last week. According to Palestinian activist Iban Hassan, Al-Rubai's tortured body was dumped on the doorstep of his family's home, accompanied by a chilling message: "This is the fate of those who criticize Hamas."
Al-Rubai’s family responded, releasing a video in which they urgently appealed to international human rights organizations to stand with Gazan society in opposition to what they termed Hamas's reign of terror. “We are demanding human rights organizations to stand with the Gazan society against Hamas's terrorism,” said a family spokesperson, emphasizing the growing desperation felt by many Gazans.
International Silence Criticized
The silence from international human rights organizations, as well as global advocates who claim solidarity with the Palestinian cause, has been severely criticized by Palestinian activists. Iban Hassan condemned this inaction, stating, "The silence from human rights organizations and those who claim to stand with Palestine is not just disappointing—it is disgraceful and shameful. Silence in the face of this horror is complicity."
Hassan’s sentiment was echoed broadly across social media platforms, highlighting the perceived hypocrisy among international movements that frequently champion Palestinian rights but have remained notably quiet following these atrocities.
History of Violence and Suppression
Hamas' current actions align with a documented history of violence against Palestinian civilians, a reality acknowledged even by human rights groups that are highly critical of Israel. Since taking control of Gaza in 2007, Hamas has consistently resorted to harsh measures to silence political dissent, including arbitrary detentions, torture, and extrajudicial killings.
In 2014, international human rights organizations issued reports detailing Hamas's use of summary executions and torture of Palestinians during the Israel-Hamas War of 2014. Such practices have continued over the years, deepening the fear and resentment among ordinary Gazans who find themselves trapped between Hamas’s oppressive rule and the devastating effects of ongoing conflict.
Palestinian Activists Speak Out
Palestinian writer Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, condemned both Hamas’ actions and the broader global response. "This is what the 'pro-Palestine' movement refers to as 'resistance,'" Alkhatib commented critically, highlighting the stark contrast between idealized global portrayals of Hamas and the harsh reality faced by Palestinians on the ground.
Hamza Howidy, another influential Palestinian activist, had previously warned that such violent actions were predictable, given Hamas's track record. "That is why I previously stated that the international community must keep an eye on what is happening because such an act was expected," Howidy stated. "Hamas can silence and terrorize anyone protesting against their rule."
Protests Halted by Hamas Crackdown
The protests have waned significantly following Hamas’ threats and violence against demonstrators. Reports from sources on the ground indicate that Hamas security forces have beaten, tortured, and intimidated protestors, deploying armed men around protest sites to ensure dissent is silenced.
Calls for Global Action
The ongoing crisis has prompted renewed calls from Palestinian human rights activists for greater international scrutiny and condemnation of Hamas’s abuses. Activists like Howidy and Alkhatib are urging the global community and international human rights bodies to recognize and act upon the brutal realities faced by Palestinians under Hamas’s rule.
The response from international human rights organizations remains to be seen, but Gazans remain desperate for accountability, justice, and fundamental human rights, even as Hamas’s brutal crackdown has temporarily silenced public dissent.
Allow me to repost here a comment I made on your Douglas Murray piece:
In my view, it is the West, and Europe above all, that is ultimately responsible for creating the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the first place. As for what they (i.e., we) might do to help bring this otherwise impossible situation to an end, I make the case (see link below) for an ongoing program to resettle Palestinians in the West in large numbers (with generous financial incentives to make it happen on a voluntary basis) as a way to reduce the demographic pressure that otherwise stands in the way of any final settlement that both sides can accept.
Yes, it will be very expensive, but can anyone think of a more plausible alternative?
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CqFXu8tbmAOkZHexFes8OqzGIfzw69vU2ejpPj3lQzE/edit?usp=sharing