As the Gaza ceasefire took effect on Sunday, masked gunmen crammed into white pickup trucks paraded through the streets of Gaza as supporters chanted the name of Hamas’ military wing. By sending its fighters into an unmistakable show of force, Hamas was trying to convey an unequivocal message to the Palestinians in Gaza, Israel and the international community: that despite heavy losses during the war among Hamas fighters, police, political leaders and government administrators, the dominant Palestinian Authority in Gaza remains.

“The message is that Hamas is the ‘day after’ for war,” said Ibrahim Madhoun, a Turkey-based analyst close to Hamas, using the phrase to refer to Gaza’s future administration.

“They convey that Hamas must be part of any future deal, or at least be aligned with it,” he added.

On Sunday, the Hamas-run government media office announced that thousands of police officers had begun deploying across the territory to “preserve security and order.” Government ministries and institutions, the Media Office announced, are ready to start working “according to the Government’s implementation plan of all measures that guarantee the return of normal life”.

At the Nasser Medical Complex in the southern city of Khan Younis, at least three uniformed police officers stood as the Palestinian national anthem played in the background, according to a video posted on social media and confirmed by the New York Times.

Later on Sunday, dozens of uniformed Hamas militants with weapons in hand were seen in Gaza City’s Saraya Square next to a car holding Israeli hostages before they were handed over to the Red Cross. The militants were trying to push away the crowds of people who were pressing towards the car.

Although Hamas tries to project that it still controls Gaza and plans to play a key role in its administration, its future there remains uncertain. Israeli officials said they had not given up on their declared war goal of dismantling Hamas’ military wing and government, strongly suggesting they might resume war against the militant group after the release of some hostages.

Gideon Saar, Israel’s foreign minister, said Sunday that Hamas rule was dangerous to Israel’s security and stressed that Israel had not agreed to a permanent ceasefire that leaves Hamas in power.

“We are determined to achieve the goals of the war,” he said.

While some analysts say Israel could eventually remove Hamas from power, others say it would fight to continue the war in the face of international pressure. And even if it does, these analysts say, Israeli forces will face enormous challenges in driving Hamas out of Gaza without an outright occupation.

Ali Jarbawi, a political science professor at Birzeit University, said Hamas’ parades through Gaza on Sunday were more than a message to the international community that it was under control. They also reflect the reality on the ground, he said.

“Hamas was there before the war and now they are there,” he said.

Aritz Parra contributed reporting.