Graphic Video Released by Israel Purports to Show Hamas Execution in Gaza

Israel has released a graphic video, blurred to obscure the victim, that it claims shows Hamas operatives executing a Palestinian man in Gaza City. The footage was shared on the Arabic-language Facebook page of COGAT. Maj Gen Ghassan Alian, leading COGAT, described the execution as a sign of Hamas’s pattern of violence, designed to maintain its grip on power. Alian directly accused Hamas of endangering the lives of Gazan civilians and attempting to instill fear. The video’s release is intended to demonstrate what Israeli officials see as Hamas’s ongoing violence and disregard for Palestinian lives. COGAT is responsible for coordinating civilian affairs between the Israeli government, military, international organizations, and the Palestinian Authority. The video’s release follows the release of an audio recording where Palestinians blame Hamas for violence at humanitarian aid centres.