Violent clashes in Gaza City over the weekend have resulted in multiple fatalities as tensions escalated between Hamas security forces and members of the Doghmush clan, as reported by various sources. The confrontations began last week following the establishment of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
Eyewitness accounts indicate that intense gunfights erupted on Sunday evening in the Sabra neighborhood, with around 200 members of Hamas security forces engaged in the conflict. Local residents disclosed that the situation became increasingly dire, with confirmed casualties among both the Doghmush clan and the Hamas security personnel. According to one resident, calm did not return to the neighborhood until approximately 9:30 PM.
A source within Gaza’s Hamas-run Interior Ministry acknowledged fatalities on both sides during the clashes. The ministry has accused the Doghmush clan of being linked to Israeli forces and being responsible for various murders. In response to the violence, around sixty members of the Doghmush family have reportedly been arrested.
The Doghmush clan has vehemently denied any collaboration with Israeli forces. In a statement, they admitted that some members had made errors but claimed that Hamas security services were indiscriminately targeting all family members. Abu al-Hassan Doghmush, a prominent figure in the clan, expressed his concerns on social media, stating that merely belonging to the Doghmush family had led to brutal repercussions, including shootings, arrests, and house burnings.
This latest confrontation is part of a broader pattern of violent clashes that have occurred since Hamas assumed control of the Gaza Strip in 2007, frequently involving various clans, including the Doghmush.
In light of these events, Gaza’s interior ministry announced a new initiative aimed at establishing a “general amnesty period” for members of criminal gangs who had not committed murders during the ongoing conflict. Since the ceasefire took hold, reports have emerged of an increased presence of Hamas security forces throughout urban areas and market places across the Gaza Strip.
