Hamas Forces Kill Dozens in Post-Ceasefire Crackdown on Rival Armed Clan

A deadly internal conflict has erupted in Gaza City, claiming dozens of lives as Hamas security forces move aggressively to reassert control in the days following the ceasefire with Israel. The fiercest confrontation was reported in the Sabra neighborhood, where heavily armed Hamas fighters clashed with members of the powerful Doghmush clan.

The fighting marks a critical new phase in the beleaguered enclave, which has seen Israeli troops withdraw from several key urban centers. According to a security official in the Hamas-run Interior Ministry, the group has launched an operation against what it termed a “dangerous gang affiliated with a family in Gaza City.” Unconfirmed reports from various sources indicate that the violence resulted in the deaths of at least 32 members of the Doghmush clan and six Hamas personnel. Dozens more have been reported injured and arrested.

The internal violence was reportedly triggered when gunmen from the Doghmush clan, one of Gaza’s most prominent and historically autonomous families, allegedly killed two Hamas members, including the son of a senior commander, a claim that dramatically escalated existing tensions.

Hamas’s aggressive deployment of its forces—with some estimates reaching 7,000 troops—is widely seen as an attempt to stamp out all domestic opposition and establish an undisputed security monopoly in the power vacuum left by the Israeli withdrawal. The operation is specifically targeting rival militias, including those like the Doghmush clan and others in southern Gaza, that Hamas has repeatedly accused of collaborating with Israeli forces during the recent conflict.

The internal crackdown is unfolding amidst continued uncertainty over the future administration of Gaza, an issue central to the ongoing, fragile peace process. The violence highlights the deep internal political fissures within the territory and raises concerns over the possibility of broader inter-Palestinian clashes as Hamas seeks to restore its total dominance.