Dozens Killed in Bloody Clashes Between Hamas and Rival Armed Clan in Gaza City

Latest Developments

Clashes Result in Heavy Death Toll: Eight Hamas terrorists and 19 members of the rival Doghmush clan were killed during armed clashes on October 11-12. Media outlets in Gaza also claimed that Hamas arrested 60 members of the clan. The fighting occurred in the Sabra neighborhood of Gaza City, where members of the clan — one of the most prominent in the war-torn coastal enclave — had taken over a building designated by Hamas as a new base for its own forces.
Hamas Claiming to ‘Restore Order’: Hamas claimed that it was attempting to “restore order” after two of its members were allegedly killed by the clan, including Muhammad Imad Aql, the son of a senior Hamas commander. The Doghmush clan countered that Hamas initiated the attack to reestablish a base at the Jordanian Hospital. Another casualty of the clashes was Hamas-allied social media influencer Saleh al-Jafarawi, who gained viral attention as a meme juxtaposing his delight over Hamas’s October 7, 2023, massacre in Israel and then weeping after the first Israeli air strikes in response.
Hamas Remains Armed: Asked about the clashes while traveling to Israel for the release of 20 hostages from Hamas captivity, President Donald Trump told reporters that Hamas had received approval to “stop the problems” in the Gaza Strip for “a period of time.” Trump’s 20-point peace plan calls for Hamas to permanently disarm, a move the terrorist group has said is “out of the question.” As part of the deal, Israel released nearly 2,000 Palestinian terrorists, including 250 serving life sentences after being convicted of attacks against Israelis.

FDD Expert Response

“Although friction between the Doghmush clan and Hamas is not new, the current dynamics reflect a shifting balance of power in Gaza. After two years of warfare, Israel has severely degraded Hamas. In response, the group has turned inward, seeking to reassert control through coercion and targeted crackdowns on any opposition. This effort is less about immediate security concerns and more about restoring Hamas’s monopoly on power. It’s a process that Hamas will likely pursue with the goal of reestablishing unchallenged authority across the Gaza Strip.” — Joe Truzman, Senior Research Analyst and Editor at FDD’s Long War Journal

“Hamas is now settling scores in Gaza. After two years of war, its terrorists have crawled out of their tunnels to confront those who opposed them. We’ve seen clans and armed militias challenge the group’s rule and its decision to bring devastation to the coastal enclave. Yet this moment reveals that Hamas still intends to keep its weapons, a reality that must be addressed with clear benchmarks and enforcement mechanisms when phase two negotiations on disarmament begin.” — Ahmad Sharawi, Research Analyst