Hamas is steadily re-establishing its grip over the Gaza Strip just months after a US-brokered ceasefire paused the devastating war with Israel. Although the conflict left Hamas militarily weakened and much of Gaza destroyed, residents and analysts say the group has shifted focus from survival against Israel to consolidating power at home.

According to local activists, Hamas has restored authority across most areas it controls, redeploying police forces, reviving courts, and reclaiming oversight of civil services such as identity documents and healthcare. Street patrols have resumed, and the group is once again enforcing taxes and fees on businesses and imports, despite Gaza’s shattered economy and widespread displacement.

Market traders describe aggressive tax collection by municipal authorities aligned with Hamas, with some alleging threats, forced payments, and violence against those who resist. Importers say Hamas has rebuilt a cash-based system to tax goods entering Gaza, avoiding banks to prevent financial tracking. Activists claim the group now maintains a database of licensed traders, mirroring pre-war governance structures but operating more discreetly.

Hamas officials argue these measures are necessary due to emergency conditions and deny that tax enforcement is tied to the group itself, framing it instead as routine governance. However, Israel maintains that revenue collection is vital to Hamas’s efforts to rebuild its military capabilities.

The Israel Defense Forces say Hamas has continued attacks since the ceasefire, while Gaza’s health authorities report ongoing Israeli strikes causing hundreds of Palestinian deaths. Israeli officials insist that lasting peace depends on Hamas disarming, a key requirement of the second phase of former US President Donald Trump’s peace plan.

Negotiations over Gaza’s reconstruction and governance remain stalled, with uncertainty over how Hamas would relinquish weapons and to whom. As international talks continue, Hamas appears determined to retain authority on the ground, complicating efforts to reshape Gaza’s political future.

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Key Takeaways

• Hamas is restoring security, taxation, and civil governance across much of Gaza.

• Traders report renewed tax enforcement and intimidation despite economic collapse.

• Gaza’s reconstruction hinges on Hamas disarmament under Trump’s peace plan.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c98g1klxnpxo

18 minutes ago, 1tooth said:

Says the media.....as cover for murdering more innocent children, that can be labeled as terrorists

Pro Palestinians never stop going on about Children all the time .

Anyone would think that the war is between the Isreal and Palestineian school kids, well weird

19 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

Pro Palestinians never stop going on about Children all the time .

Anyone would think that the war is between the Isreal and Palestineian school kids, well weird

I've debated this with you before.

It's not "Pro Palestinian" nor is it "Anti Semetic" to criticize the way in which the Netanyahu government has prosecuted the war in Gaza that has seen thousands of children killed.

What about the famous "Napalm Girl" photo of the Vietnam War. It changed the worlds opinion on what REALLY was happening in Vietnam.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phan_Thi_Kim_Phuc

The IDF has not allowed independent journalists into Gaza, why?

They have killed around 160 Palestinian journalist in Gaza, mostly targeted killings, why?

What are they hiding?

How many in Gaza are like Vietnam "Napalm Girl" in Gaza????

Call it a "gloves off - dirty war" that goes outside of the international law boundaries and and I'll accept that, but defending it, legally, I think is futile, because the statistics speak for themselves.

There's thousands of dead children that are just toooooooooooo young to be combatants.

1 hour ago, 1tooth said:

Says the media.....as cover for murdering more innocent children, that can be labeled as terrorists

No, says the people who do not share Hamas political views and who are not corrupt. The PA has representatives in Gaza, and there are other clans and political groups.

10 minutes ago, KhunHeineken said:

I've debated this with you before.

It's not "Pro Palestinian" nor is it "Anti Semetic" to criticize the way in which the Netanyahu government has prosecuted the war in Gaza that has seen thousands of children killed.

What about the famous "Napalm Girl" photo of the Vietnam War. It changed the worlds opinion on what REALLY was happening in Vietnam.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phan_Thi_Kim_Phuc

The IDF has not allowed independent journalists into Gaza, why?

They have killed around 160 Palestinian journalist in Gaza, mostly targeted killings, why?

What are they hiding?

How many in Gaza are like Vietnam "Napalm Girl" in Gaza????

Call it a "gloves off - dirty war" that goes outside of the international law boundaries and and I'll accept that, but defending it, legally, I think is futile, because the statistics speak for themselves.

There's thousands of dead children that are just toooooooooooo young to be combatants.

My point was : Listening to your side of the argument and you would think that 70 000 innocent Children died and no Hamas/Hezbollah died at all .

Trying to seriously discuss the war and your side just keeps going on bout children all the time .

Hamas properganda to get the publics sympathy .

If Hamas fire rockets from schools , then children are going to die when Isreal returns fire

21 minutes ago, KhunHeineken said:

I've debated this with you before.

It's not "Pro Palestinian" nor is it "Anti Semetic" to criticize the way in which the Netanyahu government has prosecuted the war in Gaza that has seen thousands of children killed.

What about the famous "Napalm Girl" photo of the Vietnam War. It changed the worlds opinion on what REALLY was happening in Vietnam.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phan_Thi_Kim_Phuc

The IDF has not allowed independent journalists into Gaza, why?

They have killed around 160 Palestinian journalist in Gaza, mostly targeted killings, why?

What are they hiding?

How many in Gaza are like Vietnam "Napalm Girl" in Gaza????

Call it a "gloves off - dirty war" that goes outside of the international law boundaries and and I'll accept that, but defending it, legally, I think is futile, because the statistics speak for themselves.

There's thousands of dead children that are just toooooooooooo young to be combatants.

Israel did not use Napalm in Gaza.There is no comparison.

The photograph was manipulated by some people as a claim against US participation. The truth that was not fully disclosed at the time, was that it was the South Vietnamese who had used the napalm on the outskirts of a village because of pilot error. He thought he was targeting North Vietnamese military and instead, some of the backsplash hit the village.

Unlike Vietnam, Israel has deployed personnel on the ground to minimize casualties. It could have used carpet bombing like the Syrians, Turks, Iranians, UAE, Houthi, Saudis and Iraqis in their conflicts, but it has not.

25 minutes ago, KhunHeineken said:

I've debated this with you before.

It's not "Pro Palestinian" nor is it "Anti Semetic" to criticize the way in which the Netanyahu government has prosecuted the war in Gaza that has seen thousands of children killed.

I didnt say that it was .

You put "Anti Semetic" in quotation marks .

Who was you actually quoiting ?

No one else has used that word .

How can you be quoting someone , when its you who bought the word to the discussion ?