The streets of Gaza turned into a warzone—but this time, the enemy came from within. In a shocking escalation of internal violence, at least 27 people lost their lives in brutal clashes between Hamas security forces and armed members of the powerful Dughmush clan. This marks one of the deadliest confrontations since Israel's major military operations in Gaza ended—and it raises alarming questions about who really controls the besieged territory.
Eyewitnesses described chaotic scenes near the Jordanian Hospital in Gaza City, where masked Hamas fighters traded gunfire with clan members in a residential area. But here's where it gets controversial: The Hamas-run Interior Ministry claims its forces were merely responding to an "armed assault by a militia," while the Dughmush family insists they were unjustly targeted. Who’s telling the truth?
According to medical sources, the death toll includes 19 Dughmush clan members and 8 Hamas fighters. The violence erupted after a reported 300-strong Hamas force stormed a neighborhood where the clan had taken refuge—a move that local residents say felt like an act of betrayal. "This time, people weren’t fleeing Israeli attacks," one traumatized resident revealed. "They were running from their own people."
The Dughmush family, one of Gaza’s most influential clans, has a long history of friction with Hamas. A family source alleged that Hamas tried to forcibly evict them from a building that once housed the Jordanian Hospital—a claim Hamas denies. Instead, the militant group insists it was merely enforcing order, warning against "any armed activity outside the framework of the resistance."
And this is the part most people miss: Hamas has reportedly recalled 7,000 security personnel to reestablish control in areas recently abandoned by Israeli troops. Some units operate in plain clothes, while others wear police uniforms—raising concerns about blurred lines between law enforcement and militant activity. (Hamas denies deploying armed fighters in civilian areas, but local reports suggest otherwise.)
Now, consider this: If Hamas is struggling to contain armed factions within Gaza, what does that say about its grip on power? And with displaced families caught in the crossfire—many already homeless from Israeli airstrikes—who is truly looking out for Gaza’s civilians?
What do you think? Was this a necessary crackdown on lawlessness, or an overreach by Hamas? Drop your thoughts in the comments—we want to hear both sides.
