ABC News Daily How Hamas 'outfoxed' Netanyahu to keep power
Oct 15, 2025
Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, a Palestinian-American senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, dives into the intricacies of Hamas's grip on power. He discusses how Hamas is navigating hostage returns and using public executions to instill fear in Gaza. Alkhatib critiques Trump's aggressive stance on disarming Hamas, pondering the implications of such military actions. He warns that the U.S. focus might diminish, creating risks for Palestinian statehood, while assessing the precarious security landscape for both Israelis and Palestinians.
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Temporary Respite Masks Power Shift
- The hostage releases and limited Israeli withdrawal created a temporary humanitarian respite in Gaza.
- Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib warns this progress coexists with Hamas reasserting control and casting doubt on disarmament.
Delay As Political Insurance
- Hamas delayed returning expected bodies and claims not to know their locations as a tactical move.
- Ahmed says this may be an insurance policy to buy time and reassert control across Gaza.
Public Executions And Spectacle
- Verified video shows Hamas executing seven men publicly and celebrating with youth and supporters.
- Ahmed describes the executions as a tactic to terrorize Gaza society and label dissenters as collaborators.