Hamas Arrow Unit Operatives Take Refuge in Gaza Hospital Amid Furious Gun Battle With Palestinian Opponents

Latest Developments

• Palestinians Besiege Hamas’s Arrow Unit at Hospital: Several Gaza-based social media accounts have reported on a gun battle at a hospital in southern Gaza between Hamas and armed men belonging to the Khan Younis-based Palestinian Barbakh family. According to a report on the “Palestine Eagle” channel on Telegram, a member of the family was shot dead by members of Hamas’s Arrow Unit, which is responsible for crushing Palestinians opposed to the terror group’s rule, who then fled into the city’s Nasser Hospital. Images of heavy fires and vandalism inside the hospital complex were posted at the height of the battle, while gunfire can be heard in videos.
• Hamas Turns Hospitals Into Terror Strongholds: Since the start of the Israel-Gaza war in October 2023, the IDF has discovered Hamas infrastructure, weapons storage, command-and-control centers, and headquarters near or underneath hospitals in Gaza, all of which endanger civilians and medical professionals. “Hospitals are Hamas’ favorite and central sites in the Gaza Strip to use for terrorist activities,” the IDF reported. Despite harsh international criticism, the IDF has killed a significant number of high-ranking Hamas terrorists in and around hospitals during its war in Gaza, including Mohammed Sinwar — Hamas’s top leader in Gaza and brother of former chief Yahya Sinwar — who was eliminated while hiding in an underground tunnel beneath the European Hospital in Khan Yunis. Other Hamas officials killed while shielding themselves at hospitals in the past few months include Ismail Barhoum and Hassan Abdel Fattah Mohammed Aslih, both killed at Nasser Hospital on separate dates.
• Hamas Preparing Attacks on Humanitarian Contractors: Hamas is preparing to attack American contractors working for the U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which distributes humanitarian aid in Gaza. The State Department confirmed that the United States approved funding of $30 million to GHF. The GHF has distributed more than 46 million meals to Gazans out of three distribution sites since the start of its operations on May 26.

FDD Expert Response

“If reports are accurate, the clashes between a local family and members of Hamas’s Arrow Unit suggest that despite the Arrow Unit’s notorious use of force to suppress dissent, some Gazan families remain willing to exact retribution against those who kill their relatives, regardless of the perpetrator’s organizational affiliation. This public confrontation undermines Hamas’s image of internal control and may be perceived as a sign of weakness.” — Joe Truzman, Senior Research Analyst and Editor at FDD’s Long War Journal

“Hamas doesn’t just hide its weapons in hospitals to shield them from Israeli strikes; it also retreats to these hospitals when confronted for its repression of Gazans. The contention that Hamas avoids using hospitals has now been proven wrong, first with Mohammed Sinwar discovered in a tunnel beneath the European Hospital and now, again, with its fighters hiding in the Nasser Hospital.” — Ahmad Sharawi, Research Analyst

FDD Background and Analysis

“Hamas ‘Arrow Unit’ Unveils Its Machinery of Repression in Gaza,” by Joe Truzman

“10 Things to Know About Hamas and Hospitals,” FDD Insight

“How many aid groups knew Hamas was hiding in a hospital and lied about it?” by Richard Goldberg

“Hamas Member Admits It Uses Hospital as Command Center,” FDD Flash Brief