Fear rises in Gaza of Hamas retribution

A Gazan in Khan Younis has spoken to The Australian, warning about repercussions and his fears following Israel’s ceasefire with Hamas

30-year-old Mazen, a Palestinian lawyer living pictured in Khan Younis poses for a selfie on Thursday afternoon. He fears Hamas will come back "even stronger" during the first stage of the ceasefire.

Israel’s ceasefire with Hamas has sparked fear within the liberal ­elements left in Gaza that the terror group will regroup and tighten its grip over a war-weary Palestinian people, with one moderate warning the Islamist extremists will kill all their internal opponents.

In Khan Younis, in Gaza’s south, Mazen said he was scared and was living with a new anxiety that Hamas militants will regain control of the strip after more than a year of warfare.

“I’m feel very disappointed about the ceasefire deal,” he says to The Weekend Australian via video call, and via a translator.

“I was hoping that the war would result in the ending of Hamas rule, but as we see now, Hamas is back, and Hamas now, when the ceasefire is signed, they will come back and kill all those who were in opposition to Hamas, a dissident to Hamas, including myself.”

The 30-year-old lawyer spoke to The Weekend Australian via WhatsApp from where he is living – well aware that speaking out against Hamas could result in his arrest – or cost him his life.

A photo showing Khan Younis on Thursday afternoon, supplied to The Australian by Mazen, a 30-year-old Palestinian lawyer who fears Hamas will come back "even stronger" during the first stage of the ceasefire.

As he switched the video camera around he showed a sea of makeshift tents.

It was 20C, sunny with some scattered clouds, and you could hear children play in the background.

The children played soccer in the tent city. All was quiet.

In other parts of Gaza videos have been captured of celebrations, including men armed with AK-47s firing aimlessly into the air, seemingly Hamas fighters who have emerged from their tunnels.

30-year-old Mazen, a Palestinian lawyer living pictured in Khan Younis poses for a selfie on Thursday afternoon.

But he says despite the scenes, “staunch loyalists” of Hamas only represent 10 per cent of those who fight for and die for the group.

“The majority of the people that are (in Gaza are) anti Hamas. But also we have to know that there (is) a silent majority, people like me who are active and vocal against Hamas. We are not a big percentage as well, but a lot of people, they are like us and they support what we are doing,” he said.

He has been active against Hamas since 2019 when he founded the ‘We Want to Live’ protest movement, and fears the Israeli government will change their stance towards Hamas post ceasefire and become “more friendly” with the militant terrorist group.

“I’m afraid, however, that the government in Israel will change into a government that is more friendly to Hamas and that would accept living side-by-side next to Hamas,” he said. “This would be a catastrophic event on us as ­Gazans.”

“The best thing that we can do is shaking hands, extend our hands, we and the Israeli together and work together to live in peace and to co exist next to each other.”