The U.S. State Department has condemned Hamas following the circulation of a video that appears to show masked members of the group threatening civilians in Gaza who allegedly refused to pay taxes.
The clip, first shared on the Telegram channel of Palestinian anti-Hamas activist Hamza al-Masri and later reposted on X by Arab American commentator Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, purports to show members of Hamas’ “Sahm” (Arrow) Unit confronting small vendors in Khan Younis.
According to activists who shared the footage, the masked men threatened punishment — including alleged torture and enforced disappearance — against individuals who did not comply with Hamas’ tax demands. The video also appears to show bystanders protesting the actions.
The Sahm Unit is described as part of Hamas’ internal security or police apparatus in Gaza. The unit has publicly stated that it targets “thieves, merchants, agents, and highwaymen,” and it has reportedly been used to pursue individuals accused of collaborating with Israel — a charge critics say is sometimes broadly applied to suppress dissent.
The U.S. State Department specifically condemned reports that Hamas operatives destroyed tents belonging to civilians who refused to pay taxes. While the department did not provide operational details, it characterized the behavior described in the footage as coercive and harmful to Gazan civilians.
Hamas has governed Gaza since 2007, after winning parliamentary elections in 2006 and subsequently seizing control of the territory from the rival Fatah faction in a violent power struggle. Israel withdrew its military presence and settlements from Gaza in 2005.
Public opinion in Gaza has shifted during the ongoing conflict. While polling in late 2023 indicated strong support among Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank for Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel, subsequent surveys and reporting suggest growing frustration among Gazans over the devastation caused by the war and the prolonged humanitarian crisis.
Some residents have reportedly criticized Hamas for triggering the conflict and for refusing to release Israeli hostages earlier in negotiations that eventually led to a ceasefire brokered in October 2025. Armed groups opposing Hamas have since emerged within Gaza.
A January report in The Wall Street Journal stated that Israeli forces and intelligence services have cooperated with certain anti-Hamas militias in parts of Gaza during the ceasefire period. Former Israeli military officer Yaron Buskila told the newspaper that Israeli forces have at times provided information and intervened when Hamas attempted to confront those groups.
Gaza remains effectively divided, with Israeli forces controlling some areas and Hamas maintaining authority in others. The situation on the ground continues to evolve as diplomatic efforts and military operations intersect in a fragile and volatile environment.
The State Department’s condemnation adds another layer of international scrutiny to Hamas’ governance practices as tensions in the region remain high.
