At Least 27 Killed in Clashes Between Hamas Security Forces and Armed Dughmush Family Members in Gaza City.
Fierce internal fighting between Hamas security forces and armed elements of the Dughmush clan over the weekend has resulted in the deaths of at least 27 people in Gaza City, marking one of the deadliest intra-Palestinian confrontations since the conclusion of major Israeli military operations.
The clashes erupted in densely populated areas, including the Tel al-Hawa neighbourhood, when a large force of Hamas fighters moved to surround a residential block where Dughmush gunmen were reportedly entrenched. Medical sources within the enclave confirmed the toll, reporting that 19 Dughmush clan members and eight Hamas fighters were killed in the fighting, which involved heavy exchanges of gunfire near a medical facility.
The long-standing tensions between the ruling Islamist movement and the powerful, loosely aligned Dughmush family—which operates a group known as the Army of Islam and has a history of violent clashes with Hamas—were brought to a head by accusations from both sides.
The Hamas-run interior ministry issued a stern response, stating that its members were killed in “an armed assault by a militia.” The ministry emphasized its resolve to restore order, warning that “any armed activity outside the framework of the resistance” would be dealt with firmly.
However, a source representing the Dughmush family provided a contradictory account to local media, claiming the violence was triggered when Hamas forces attempted to forcibly seize a building near the Jordanian Hospital. The building, the source claimed, was being used as a shelter by clan members whose homes had been destroyed in recent conflicts, accusing Hamas of seeking to evict the family to establish a new military base.
The incident underscores the deeply fragile internal security landscape in Gaza, where Hamas is attempting to reassert authority across the territory amidst widespread destruction and the proliferation of armed factions.
