Hamas Clashes with Rival Groups Following Ceasefire
Shortly after a ceasefire was established, Hamas fighters confronted other Palestinian factions and reportedly dealt with an individual accused of being an Israeli informant.
Residents in Gaza shared that Hamas set up checkpoints throughout the area and engaged in gunfights with rivals who had allegedly received arms from Israeli forces. A report by the Financial Times indicated that masked gunmen in Gaza City were searching vehicles for weapons.
Hamas issued an ultimatum for rival groups to hand over their weapons within 48 hours. However, the People’s Army, the primary opposing militia under the leadership of Yasser Abu Shabab, remained unyielding, asserting its resolve to defend its territory near Rafah. They made it clear on social media, stating, “We have no intention of leaving the Gaza Strip.”
In a tweet, a user reported that Hamas militias were attacking the Dagmushu clan, one of Gaza City’s largest families. According to Mohamed Dagmushu, Hamas was targeting not only its own fighters but anyone with that surname.
This wave of violence came as a shock to many residents, who assumed that Hamas would be weakened by recent Israeli offensives. The group stated its intent to “strengthen security and stability and protect the rights of our people.”
A Hamas-affiliated Telegram channel claimed that Hamas security forces arrested informants in Gaza City, alleging that these individuals had spied for Israel and participated in the killings of resistance members. Disturbing video footage circulated by a Hamas channel showed an alleged informant being assaulted, as reported by CNN.
Violent clashes near Jordan Hospital in southern Gaza City resulted in at least 27 fatalities, including eight Hamas fighters and 19 members of the Dagmushu clan, according to local medical sources. The BBC noted that eyewitnesses reported over 300 Hamas fighters launching an assault on a residential zone occupied by the Dagmush militia. One resident expressed the surreal nature of the event, stating, “This time people were not fleeing from an Israeli attack. They were fleeing from their own people.”
