In the heart of Gaza City, a brutal feud erupts, claiming 27 lives and exposing the fragile peace in a war-torn enclave— but what happens when the fighters turn on each other?
Just under an hour ago, from our correspondent Rushdi Abualouf stationed in Istanbul, comes a shocking report: Intense battles between Hamas security personnel and armed affiliates of the Dughmush family have resulted in at least 27 fatalities, marking one of the bloodiest internal skirmishes in Gaza since the conclusion of Israel's major military campaigns in the region.
Eyewitness accounts describe masked Hamas combatants trading gunfire with clan warriors near the Jordanian Hospital in the city. A high-ranking figure in Hamas's interior ministry explained that security teams encircled the group and initiated substantial combat to apprehend them, with the ministry reporting that their own eight members perished in what it termed 'an armed offensive by a militia.'
Healthcare professionals on the ground confirmed the toll: 19 from the Dughmush clan and eight Hamas fighters have lost their lives since the violence ignited on Saturday. Observers recounted how the confrontation flared up in the Tel al-Hawa district of southern Gaza City, after a formidable Hamas contingent—over 300 strong—attempted to invade a residential compound where Dughmush gunslingers had fortified themselves.
Locals painted a picture of chaos, with scores of households evacuating amidst relentless barrages of bullets. Many of these families had already been uprooted repeatedly throughout the conflict. 'This wasn't about escaping Israeli bombardment,' one resident shared poignantly. 'We were fleeing from our own neighbors.'
For context, the Dughmush family stands as one of Gaza's most influential clans, and their relationship with Hamas has been fraught with tension for years, leading to past confrontations involving armed clashes. The Hamas-led interior ministry emphasized that its actions aimed to enforce stability, vowing strict measures against 'any unauthorized armed operations beyond the scope of resistance efforts.'
Both factions are pointing fingers, each blaming the other for igniting the firestorm. Hamas initially accused Dughmush members of assassinating two of their personnel and injuring five more, which spurred their retaliatory raid. Conversely, a representative from the Dughmush side, speaking to regional outlets, alleged that Hamas troops approached a structure formerly known as the Jordanian Hospital, where the family had sought sanctuary after their homes in the al-Sabra area were obliterated during recent Israeli strikes. The source contended that Hamas intended to displace them and repurpose the site as a new operational hub for their forces.
But here's where it gets controversial: Is Hamas truly restoring order, or is this a power grab in the vacuum left by Israel's withdrawal?
Hamas has reportedly summoned around 7,000 of its security personnel—check out this related BBC article (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce8482418plo) for more on that—to reclaim dominance in zones recently abandoned by Israeli military units, per local informants. There are indications that armed Hamas squads have fanned out into various neighborhoods, some dressed in everyday attire and others in the navy-blue garb of Gaza's police force. Interestingly, Hamas's media arm has refuted claims of stationing 'combatants on the streets.'
And this is the part most people miss: In a place ravaged by external invasions, internal clan dynamics and rivalries can be just as destructive, raising questions about who really governs Gaza now.
To newcomers puzzling over this, clans in Gaza are like extended family networks that wield significant social and sometimes military influence, often blurring lines between community leaders and armed groups. This adds layers to the conflict, where loyalty might clash with governance. But what do you think—does Hamas have a right to crack down on these clans for the sake of stability, or is this an overreach that stifles legitimate grievances? Share your thoughts in the comments; do you side with the ministry's narrative, or is there a counterpoint I'm missing here? Let's discuss!
