Gaza City Clashes: A Deadly Internal Confrontation
At least 27 people were killed in fierce clashes between Hamas security forces and armed members of the Dughmush family in Gaza City, marking one of the most violent internal confrontations since major Israeli operations in the enclave paused. The fighting unfolded around the city’s Tel al-Hawa district, with heavy gunfire and a chaotic exodus of residents as civilians sought shelter from the violence.
What Happened
Witnesses described masked Hamas gunmen exchanging fire with Dughmush fighters near what had been the Jordanian hospital in Gaza City. A senior official from the Hamas-run interior ministry said security units surrounded the area and engaged in heavy combat to detain those involved. The interior ministry asserted that eight of its members were killed in what it called an armed assault by a militia.
Medical sources confirmed the toll: 19 Dughmush clan members and eight Hamas fighters have died since the clashes began on Saturday. Eyewitnesses added that the confrontation started when a Hamas force of more than 300 fighters moved to storm a residential block where Dughmush gunmen had entrenched themselves.
Context and Background
The Dughmush family is one of Gaza’s most prominent clans and has a history of tense relations with Hamas. Armed members from the family previously clashed with Hamas on multiple occasions, underscoring the fragility of security control in Gaza City amid ongoing political and military pressures.
According to residents, the Tel al-Hawa neighborhood had become a flashpoint as the fighting spread through adjacent blocks. Many civilians described scenes of panic, with dozens of families fleeing their homes under continuous gunfire. Some residents noted that this escalation was not a direct response to Israeli military actions, but rather a conflict within the Palestinian leadership itself.
Official Statements and Rival Narratives
The Hamas interior ministry vowed to restore order and warned that any armed activity outside the framework of the resistance would be dealt with decisively. Both sides issued competing claims about who sparked the violence. Hamas said Dughmush gunmen killed two of its fighters and wounded five others, prompting a broader operation against the clan. In contrast, a Dughmush representative claimed Hamas forces had approached a building that had housed the family after their al-Sabra neighborhood homes were destroyed in a recent Israeli attack, allegedly to evict the family and use the space as a new base.
Security Reassertion Amid Wider Tensions
Security forces loyal to Hamas have recently been recalled in larger numbers, with reports indicating about 7,000 officers and other personnel redeployed to reassert control over areas of Gaza previously vacated by Israeli troops. The presence of units across several districts, some in civilian clothing and others in the blue Gaza police uniforms, has blurred lines between police work and military operations—an issue that local observers say complicates efforts to prevent further clashes.
The Hamas media office has denied widespread deployment of “fighters in the streets,” insisting that security actions were targeted and lawful. Yet the violence, and the visible mobilization of security forces, raises concerns about the potential for further flare-ups in the near term.
Human Impact and the Road Ahead
Beyond the casualty figures, the clashes have amplified fear among residents who are already burdened by years of conflict. Displacement, property damage, and the disruption of daily life intensify the humanitarian toll in Gaza, where civilians often bear the brunt of political and security disputes. Analysts warn that without a credible mechanism for resolving internal disputes, infighting among armed groups could undermine any broader stabilization efforts in the enclave.
As authorities in Gaza City attempt to restore order, observers say that the situation tests Hamas’s capacity to manage internal dissent while maintaining the legitimacy it has projected as the governing authority in Gaza.
