A devastating conflict has erupted in Gaza City, leaving at least 27 individuals dead in a fierce battle between Hamas security forces and members of the Dughmush family. This internal confrontation is one of the most violent since the end of major Israeli operations in the enclave, and it has sparked a crisis that threatens to unravel the fragile peace in the region.
The clashes began near the Jordanian Hospital, with masked Hamas gunmen exchanging fire with clan fighters, according to eyewitnesses. A senior official from the Hamas-run interior ministry stated that security units surrounded the fighters and engaged in heavy combat to detain them. The ministry reported the tragic loss of eight of its members in what they described as an armed assault by a militia.
Medical sources paint a grim picture, confirming the deaths of 19 Dughmush clan members and eight Hamas fighters since the fighting commenced on Saturday. Residents of the Tel al-Hawa neighborhood in southern Gaza City described scenes of panic and chaos as families fled their homes under intense gunfire, many of them displaced multiple times during the recent war.
"This time, it wasn't the Israelis they were running from; it was their own people," said one resident, highlighting the tragic nature of the conflict.
The Dughmush family, a prominent clan in Gaza, has a long history of tense relations with Hamas, with armed clashes between the two groups occurring on several occasions in the past. The Hamas-run interior ministry claimed its forces were acting to restore order, warning that any armed activity outside the framework of the resistance would be met with a firm response.
Both sides have traded accusations, with Hamas stating that Dughmush gunmen killed two of its fighters and wounded five others, prompting their operation against the clan. However, a source from the Dughmush family offered a different narrative, claiming that Hamas forces had arrived at a building that once served as the Jordanian Hospital, where the family had sought refuge after their homes in the al-Sabra neighborhood were destroyed in the recent Israeli attack.
The source alleged that Hamas intended to evict the family from the building to establish a new base for its forces, a claim that has sparked controversy and raised questions about the true motives behind the clashes.
Hamas has reportedly recalled approximately 7,000 members of its security forces to reassert control over areas recently vacated by Israeli troops. Local reports suggest that armed Hamas units have already deployed across several districts, some in civilian attire and others in the blue uniforms of the Gaza police. The Hamas media office, however, denied deploying "fighters in the streets."
This internal conflict in Gaza City has the potential to escalate and further destabilize an already volatile region. It serves as a stark reminder of the complex dynamics and deep-rooted tensions that exist within Palestinian society, and it raises important questions about the role of armed groups and the pursuit of peace in the midst of ongoing conflict.
What are your thoughts on this tragic situation? Do you believe there is a path towards reconciliation and stability in Gaza, or is this a sign of deeper divisions that cannot be easily mended? Share your insights and engage in the discussion below.
