A senior US official for the Middle East (CENTCOM) called on Wednesday for Hamas to “stop firing on Palestinian civilians” following the release by the Palestinian Islamist movement of a video showing summary executions of alleged “collaborators.”
“We strongly urge Hamas to cease targeting innocent Palestinian civilians in Gaza,” said Brad Cooper, head of the US military command for the Middle East, on X.
Statement from Adm. Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander: pic.twitter.com/9nhijzThvb
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) October 15, 2025
“This is a historic opportunity for peace. Hamas must seize it by withdrawing, fully complying with President Trump’s 20-point peace plan, and disarming without delay,” he added.
“We have raised our concerns with mediators who have agreed to work with us to enforce peace and protect innocent civilians in Gaza,” he continued.
Since the ceasefire took effect on Friday, following two years of war with Israel triggered by Hamas’s attack on October 7, 2023, AFP journalists have observed members of Hamas security forces deployed across several Gaza Strip cities, including markets and roads.
They have conducted a campaign of repression, reportedly executing eight alleged Israeli “collaborators” in broad daylight in Gaza City, according to a video released by Hamas on Tuesday that AFP could not independently verify.
After several days of skirmishes, witnesses reported “intense” fighting on Tuesday in eastern Gaza City’s Shuja’iya district, involving a Hamas-affiliated unit and armed clans and gangs, some allegedly supported by Israel.
The newly formed “Deterrent Force” within Hamas’s security apparatus is “carrying out an operation” to “neutralize wanted individuals,” a Palestinian security source in Gaza told AFP.
AFP
Comments