Hamas staged a public display of power in Gaza City on Sunday, executing three men it accused of spying for Israel. Blindfolded and shot at close range in front of large crowds, the killings were met with cheers and chants of “Allahu akbar.” Witnesses reported that a sheet placed over one of the bodies bore a chilling message: “Sword mercenaries — it is time to cut off your heads.” The executions highlighted Hamas’s determination to maintain control inside Gaza even as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) intensified their operations in the city’s urban core.

The Islamist group framed the executions as a warning to Israel and as proof of its ability to expose alleged collaborators. A senior Hamas source claimed that five additional suspects had surrendered in the past three days, with some facing interrogation and others slated for “reintegration.” The timing of the spectacle coincided with Britain, Canada, and Australia’s recognition of a Palestinian state, which Hamas welcomed as an “important step” but insisted must be followed by an end to the war, a halt to settlement expansion, and international action against Israel.

Meanwhile, the IDF announced that it had sent the 36th Brigade into Gaza City, joining two others already engaged in heavy combat. Spokesman Brig. Gen. Efi Defrin said Israeli forces were striking Hamas’s central strongholds above and below ground, accusing the group of sacrificing its own civilians to prolong the conflict. He noted that more than 550,000 civilians have fled Gaza City, while Hamas continues to block evacuations. “We have no choice but to fight for our future,” Defrin said, stressing that Israel remains committed to dismantling Hamas’s terror infrastructure, destroying its tunnels, and rescuing hostages still held in Gaza.

SOURCE: Ynet News