By Bhargav Acharya

Palestinians gather at a street market during a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, in Gaza City, October 12, 2025. REUTERS/Ebrahim Hajjaj/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights , opens new tab

Oct 15 (Reuters) – The U.S. military’s Middle East command on Wednesday called on Hamas to stop its violence against civilians in Gaza and disarm “without delay” as the militant group reasserts itself by deploying security forces and executing those it deems collaborators with Israel.

Hamas, which has not publicly committed to disarming and ceding power, has gradually sent its men back into the streets of Gaza since the ceasefire began on Friday.

It has killed more than 30 members of “a gang” in Gaza City, a Palestinian security source said on Monday, without identifying the gang involved. Hamas has cited crime and security concerns for its actions as thousands of Palestinians return to the enclave’s shattered north.

“We strongly urge Hamas to immediately suspend violence and shooting at innocent Palestinian civilians in Gaza,” Commander Brad Cooper, head of the U.S. military’s CENTCOM, said in a statement.

MIXED MESSAGE FROM U.S.

Cooper asked the militant group to fully stand down, “strictly” adhere to U.S. President Donald Trump’s Gaza plan, and put down its weapons without delay.

“We have conveyed our concerns to the mediators who agreed to work with us to enforce the peace and protect innocent Gaza civilians,” he said.

The security crackdown by the militant group came after Trump suggested Hamas had been given a temporary green light to police Gaza.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Trump said Hamas had killed “a number of gang members,” which he said did not bother him.

Trump’s plan foresees Hamas out of power in a demilitarised Gaza run by a Palestinian committee under international supervision. It calls for the deployment of an international stabilisation mission that will train and support a Palestinian police force.

Led by CENTCOM, the U.S. is expected to deploy up to 200 troops to Israel to help with stabilisation efforts in Gaza. However, no Americans are expected to be deployed into the Palestinian enclave.

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Based in Johannesburg, Bhargav reports on breaking news across Sub-Saharan Africa. He has covered several important stories on the continent, including former Paralympic star Oscar Pistorius’s parole and release, and the historic 2024 South African election. He was part of a team of reporters that Reuters named Journalists of the Year in 2023 in the Speed category for coverage of Africa. Previously he spent three years in India with Reuters’ Global News Monitoring team. He has a master’s degree in International Studies. When he’s not working, Bhargav likes to read and travel.

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