Fatal Fighting Break Out Involving the Hamas movement and Gaza-based Clan in the Gaza Strip
The southern Gaza city witnessed one of the fiercest internal confrontations since hostilities commenced, between Hamas security personnel against armed members from the al-Mujaida family - among the biggest families in southern Gaza.
According to Hamas officials, its forces conducted a raid in the neighborhood to detain people suspected of working with Israel.
Conversely, local accounts recounted an armed assault by approximately 50 men using multiple vehicles, carrying assault rifles and RPG launchers, who stormed the al-Mujaida quarter and fatally shot five members from the family.
Clan fighters rapidly responded, triggering hours-long clashes with sustained exchanges of fire.
Reports spreading through social media – challenging to confirm – suggest that at least 11 Hamas members were eliminated, with several corpses supposedly pulled along the streets.
Recordings broadly distributed on the internet, which remain unverified, seem to depict multiple bloodied casualties in combat uniforms, featuring a voiceover stating they were members of Hamas's "Sahm Unit".
Separate video showed sustained shooting and an RPG hitting a apartment block in the area.
Tribal mediators eventually mediated to mediate between the conflicting parties, culminating in an exchange of bodies designed to contain the intensification.
While the exact motives remain unclear, the incident has intensified anxiety among Gaza residents.
Numerous residents worry that widespread weapons, hostilities between influential clans and Hamas's grip on power could escalate into situations similar to internal conflict in a region already gripped by forced relocation, devastation, and concern of additional disorder.
Observers indicate that the extent of anger which Hamas encounters from its numerous adversaries – some of whom have been marginalized during its lengthy rule – is considered a key factor influencing the organization to reject the peace proposal.
Additionally, there is concern of violent retribution, of being killed in the public spaces, since the agreement demands Hamas to give up all arms.
Indications suggest that the commander of Hamas's military wing in Gaza has expressed disagreement regarding the plan, which was announced recently.
The proposal includes a time limit for Hamas to comply or encounter serious outcomes.
