Hamas “Sahm” Unit Threatens Torture and Disappearance of Gazans Refusing Tax Payments, U.S. State Department Condemns

The U.S. State Department has condemned Hamas after a video clip revealed masked terrorists affiliated with the group threatening Gazans who refused to pay taxes in Khan Younis.

Arab American anti-Hamas activist Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib posted the clip on social media platform X following its initial appearance on Palestinian anti-Hamas activist Hamza al-Masri’s Telegram channel. The video depicted Hamas’ “Sahm” (Arrow) Unit extorting and intimidating civilians in the Gaza Strip, with terrorists targeting small vendors to threaten them with torture and disappearance if they did not pay taxes to Hamas.

The Sahm unit, part of Hamas’ police force in Gaza, frequently targets Gazans accused of cooperating with Israel—a charge often leveled against anyone who opposes Hamas. The unit describes itself as “pursuing and executing thieves, merchants, agents, and highwaymen.”

The U.S. State Department specifically condemned the Hamas terrorists for destroying tents belonging to Gazans who refused to pay taxes. Alkhatib noted that the clip showed Hamas threatening torture, including “metal rods in legs and knees,” against any Gazans who do not comply with Hamas’ demands. The video also captured local bystanders protesting loudly against the violent actions of Hamas.

Israel withdrew unilaterally from Gaza in 2005. In 2006, Hamas won a local Gaza election, and by 2007, the group took control of the coastal enclave after violently ousting its political rival, Fatah, which governs the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah.

Initially popular among Gazans, Hamas gained widespread support. A November 2023 Arab poll revealed that 85% of Arabic-speaking populations in Gaza, Judea and Samaria (West Bank) supported the Hamas-led October 7 attack that killed 1,200 Israelis and took 251 people hostage from southern Israeli border communities.

However, Hamas has lost significant support following two years of devastating conflict in Gaza. Many Gazans increasingly blame the group for destruction, citing its attacks on Israel and systematic use of civilian shields in hospitals, schools, mosques, and residential buildings. While sympathy for Israel remains low, many Gazans also accuse Hamas of prolonging the war by refusing to release all Israeli hostages until the Trump administration brokered a ceasefire in October 2025.

The growing opposition to Hamas has led to the formation of multiple anti-Hamas militias within Gaza. In January, it was reported that the Israeli military and intelligence services were cooperating with these militias during the formal ceasefire. Yaron Buskila, a former senior operations officer with the IDF’s Gaza Division, stated: “When they go out and carry out actions against Hamas, we are there to oversee them and at times also to assist. This includes providing information and intervening if we see Hamas threatening them or getting close.”

The so-called Yellow Line currently divides Gaza into two roughly equal parts, one controlled by the Israeli military and the other by Hamas forces. This cooperation has enabled Israeli forces to target Hamas in areas where they are not present on the ground.