Gaza's Deadly Power Struggle
Israel could go back into Gaza soon - Here's what we know
Senator Lindsey Graham warns that Israel may intervene in Gaza again to protect anti-Hamas clans after the fragile U.S.-brokered ceasefire, as rival factions face executions and a deadly power vacuum that threatens civil strife.
During an appearance on Fox News's Hannity program on October 14, 2025, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) he discussed the fragile post-ceasefire situation in Gaza following the U.S.-brokered peace deal.
The ceasefire, mediated by President Donald Trump and signed last week, ended over two years of conflict that began with Hamas's October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, resulting in the release of remaining Israeli hostages but leaving a power vacuum in Gaza after partial Israeli military withdrawals.
In this vacuum, a weakened Hamas has been cracking down on rivals, executing at least 33 people, including members of anti-Hamas clans and civilians, in efforts to reassert control, raising fears of internal Palestinian strife or even civil war.
Graham highlighted ongoing discussions within Israel about potentially reinvading parts of Gaza to protect and support these anti-Hamas Palestinian tribes and clans, such as the Popular Forces, Doghmosh, Al-Majayda, and Hellis, who had previously opposed or resisted Hamas rule.
Israel has a history of arming and coordinating with some of these groups to undermine Hamas, as confirmed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in June 2025, though many clans declined deeper involvement due to fears of Hamas retaliation.
Graham expressed hope that these factions could independently rise up against Hamas but warned that Israel is prepared to reenter Gaza if needed to safeguard them, stating: "If Israel has to go back into Gaza to save these people, they will."
He advocated for a coalition of Arab countries, building on the Trump-brokered deal's regional involvement, to instead send troops or take the lead in dismantling Hamas and stabilizing the area, arguing this would foster greater long-term change in the Middle East than Israeli action alone.
This aligns with broader revelations of secret military cooperation between Israel and at least six Arab states (including during the war) under a U.S.-led regional security network, which could extend to post-ceasefire efforts like training a new Palestinian police force or deploying international forces in Gaza.
However, public Arab condemnation of Israel's actions persists, and no formal Arab troop deployment has been announced as of October 15, 2025, amid ongoing tensions like Hamas's non-compliance on returning all deceased hostages' bodies.