According to activist Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, the clip shows Hamas operatives shutting down small vendors who refused to pay taxes and threatening violence, disappearance, and torture.
The US State Department condemned Hamas for destroying the tents of Gazans who refused to pay taxes in a Sunday post on X/Twitter in response to an undated video circulating online appearing to show Hamas's "Sahm" (Arrow) Unit terrorizing and extorting civilians. The video, posted on Palestinian anti-Hamas activist Hamza al-Masri’s Telegram channel, appears to show masked men belonging to Hamas tearing down a tent in Khan Younis while bystanders loudly protest the action.
According to Palestinian American activist Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, the clip shows Hamas operatives shutting down small vendors who refused to pay taxes and threatening violence, disappearance, and torture, including "metal rods in legs and knees," against those who disobey. Throughout 2025, Hamas faced internal opposition from Gazans who rejected the group’s rule and its refusal to end the war. Thousands of protesters took to the streets demanding peace. After a severe crackdown that included beatings, killings, and executions, the group appeared to reassert control. The video may reflect this ongoing effort to intimidate and control the population.
The Sahm Unit, part of Hamas’s police force, targets Palestinians accused of collaborating with Israel and describes itself as responsible for “pursu[ing] and execut[ing] thieves, merchants, agents, and highwaymen.”In May 2025, following the protests, the unit announced plans to publicly execute and dismember three alleged Gazan collaborators. Previously, it has been reported to have released gruesome videos of public lynchings. (Read More)
