Replay: Who will fill the security vacuum in Gaza?

About this episode

The episode discusses the security vacuum in Gaza and the implications of Hamas's disarmament on the region's governance.

In its first report to the UN Security Council, the Board of Peace this month said Hamas’s refusal to disarm was the main obstacle to the reconstruction of Gaza. The board's leader, Nickolay Mladenov, also called on Israel to honour its commitments to the ceasefire, after its attacks killed at least 850 Palestinians following the truce announcement in October. He accused both parties of inaction and warned that the deteriorating status quo of a divided Gaza risks becoming permanent. Israel refuses to withdraw until Hamas disarms. But is this a feasible sticking point and what would it mean for Gaza’s security and governance? In an episode of Beyond the Headlines from October 2025, host Nada AlTaher examines the security vacuum in Gaza, where Hamas is weakened and militias try to gain power. She speaks to The National’s Gaza correspondent Nagham Mohanna and Palestinian defence and security journalist Hamze Attar.

People in this episode

Host: Nada AlTaher

Guests: Nagham Mohanna, Hamze Attar

Topics covered

• Gaza
• security
• Hamas
• militias
• reconstruction
• ceasefire

Keywords

• Gaza
• Hamas
• security vacuum
• militias
• reconstruction
• ceasefire
• UN Security Council

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Hamas, UN Security Council, Israel

Places: Gaza

More episodes of Beyond the Headlines

• Are the US and Israel still fighting the same war? · June 12, 2026 · 26 min
• The limits of soft power: America’s war and its World Cup · June 5, 2026 · 23 min
• More weapons, less action: What are the Houthis up to? · May 22, 2026 · 19 min
• Where does China stand in US-Iran conflict? · May 14, 2026 · 14 min
• Your move: What next in battle for Strait of Hormuz? · May 7, 2026 · 22 min
• Making sense of Palestine’s local elections · May 1, 2026 · 18 min