Fierce clashes in Gaza City between Hamas security forces and armed members of the Dughmush family have resulted in at least 27 fatalities, marking one of the most violent internal conflicts since major Israeli operations ceased in the enclave. The conflict escalated near the Jordanian hospital, where masked Hamas gunmen engaged in gunfire with members of the Dughmush clan, as reported by witnesses.
A senior figure within the Hamas-run interior ministry stated that security units encircled the armed fighters, resulting in heavy exchanges of fire as they attempted to detain them. According to official reports from the ministry, eight of its personnel were killed during what it described as “an armed assault by a militia.” Medical personnel confirmed that 19 members of the Dughmush clan and eight Hamas fighters had lost their lives since hostilities commenced on Saturday.
Clashes escalate in Tel al-Hawa neighborhood
Eyewitness accounts reveal that the violence ignited in the Tel al-Hawa neighborhood of southern Gaza City, where a contingent of over 300 Hamas fighters sought to storm a residential area where Dughmush gunmen were entrenched. Residents reported scenes of chaos as numerous families evacuated their homes amidst heavy gunfire, many having already been displaced during previous conflicts.
“This time people weren’t fleeing Israeli attacks,” one resident remarked. “They were running from their own people.”
The Dughmush family is among the most influential clans in Gaza and has historically maintained a fraught relationship with Hamas. Armed confrontations between the two have occurred on several previous occasions. The Hamas-run interior ministry asserted that the operation was aimed at restoring order, cautioning against “any armed activity outside the framework of the resistance,” which would be met with decisive measures.
Accusations and claims of territorial control
Both factions have exchanged blame regarding the origins of the conflict. Hamas alleged that Dughmush gunmen were responsible for the deaths of two of its fighters and injuries to five others, which subsequently prompted the group’s offensive. Conversely, a source affiliated with the Dughmush clan disclosed to local media that Hamas forces had targeted a building that previously functioned as the Jordanian Hospital, where the clan had sought refuge following the destruction of their homes in the al-Sabra neighborhood due to recent Israeli assaults. This source asserted that Hamas aimed to displace the family from the building to establish a new stronghold.
In a broader context, Hamas has reportedly recalled around 7,000 members of its security forces to reinforce control over areas recently vacated by Israeli troops. Local sources indicate that armed Hamas units have been deployed across various districts, with some operatives dressed in civilian attire and others in the blue uniforms of the Gaza police. However, the Hamas media office has denied any claims of deploying “fighters in the streets.”