Government leaders had fun with photo-ops in a decorated ballroom celebrating peace.
But peace is hard work, and now the work begins, Rep. Keith Self (R-Texas) said on Washington Watch Monday.
The nations who signed onto the peace plan engineered by President Donald Trump need to roll up their sleeves and get after it, Self told show host Tony Perkins.
“I will point out that now the other Middle Eastern countries have a responsibility to make sure that the negotiations and the treaty that they have signed will be implemented on the ground. Because, as I say, a piece of paper means nothing. Let's implement it on the ground and get it done,” Self said.
The peace plan as unveiled by Trump on Sept. 29 has 20 points. In no place does it call for a Palestinian state on ground outside the Gaza Strip.
Phase one of the plan calls for Gaza to become a de-radicalized, terror-free zone that poses no threat to its neighbors.
This means that Hamas’ military capability (or more broadly, any group in Gaza acting as a militant threat) would be dismantled or neutralized in some way, and the territory must not be used to launch attacks across borders.
Phase two calls for redevelopment of Gaza to the benefit its people.
Hamas still has power of the gun
Though peace was celebrated on Monday, violence continues.
Hamas has executed “alleged collaborators” and has increased the public visibility of its fighters, Reuters reports.
For now, the show of power from a group the peace plan says will disarm, is aimed at rival militias, potential threats inside Gaza.
In a stark assertion of Hamas’ return, fighters executed men they accused of collaborating with Israeli forces. In one video circulated late on Monday, Hamas fighters dragged seven men into a circle of people in Gaza City, forced them to their knees and shot them from behind. A Hamas source confirmed the authenticity of the video, according to Reuters.
Regional analysts say the latest violence is Hamas’ way of sending a message, FirstPost reports.
The Washington Free Beacon reported that the attackers were members of Hamas’ Arrow Unit, known for its harsh crackdowns on dissent.
Researcher Joe Truzman, from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said the group was “settling scores” after resurfacing from hiding, The Free Beacon reported.
“After two years of war, its fighters have crawled out of their tunnels to confront those who opposed them,” said analyst Ahmad Sharawi. “Clans and militias have challenged Hamas’ rule and its decision to bring ruin to Gaza. But Hamas clearly plans to keep its weapons — an issue that must be addressed when disarmament talks begin.”
Hamas, it appears, has given “local gangs” a week to present a compelling reason to stay around.
The Gaza Ministry of Interior and National Security (Hamas) announced a general amnesty and opportunity for repentance for members of local gangs who were not involved in killings or bloodshed, allowing them to surrender within one week (Oct. 13–19) to settle their legal and security status, Truzman reported on X.
Self: Hamas isn’t going away
The ministry said the move follows the implementation of the ceasefire ending what it called “the Israeli war of genocide” and is part of broader efforts to restore order, stability, and social cohesion in Gaza. Authorities acknowledged that some criminal groups exploited wartime chaos, looting property and humanitarian aid. The statement distinguishes between those with “clean hands” and those who committed murder or serious crimes.
The ministry warned that anyone who refuses to surrender or continues illegal activities will face strict legal action, stressing that public security and citizens’ rights will be protected “under all circumstances.”
Hamas isn’t going away, Self predicts. Maybe they look different, take up with a different group or something similar.
“We’ve seen this before, when one terrorist group is taken down, they morph,” he said. “How do you change decades of training your children to hate Jews, to hate Israel, to say that Israel has no right to exist? How do you change that with one day, with one piece of paper? That will take time, and Hamas will morph into something else if it's not Hamas.”
