According to a report by The New Arab, published on October 13, deadly confrontations erupted between Hamas security forces and fighters linked to the powerful Doghmush family in Gaza City’s Sabra neighborhood. These clashes occurred as Hamas intensified efforts to restore order in areas previously under Israeli control, accusing rival militias of collaborating with Israeli forces. The report highlights that Hamas is cracking down on these groups, signaling a determined push to consolidate its power.
The fighting has resulted in numerous casualties, with dozens reportedly killed and wounded in gun battles. A security official from Gaza’s interior ministry claimed that Doghmush militia members fired upon displaced Palestinians attempting to return to the city. Several Hamas fighters were also killed in the violence. Tragically, Palestinian journalist and social media influencer Saleh al-Jafarawi was among those killed in Sabra, reportedly after coming under fire from gunmen. This incident adds to the grim toll on journalists in Gaza, with nearly 240 having lost their lives since October 2023, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.
Hamas’s efforts to re-establish control come in the wake of the Israeli military’s pullback following last week’s ceasefire. Videos circulating online show armed police patrolling the streets and markets of Gaza City, indicating a visible assertion of Hamas’s presence. The group has reportedly vowed revenge against militias it accuses of collaboration with Israel. Unverified reports suggest the detention of Yasser Abu Shabab, a tribal militia leader with alleged links to an Islamic State group-linked warlord, whose Popular Forces militia is accused of receiving Israeli weapons and funding to fight Hamas and loot aid convoys.
Further complicating the internal dynamics, Hamas fighters reportedly clashed with members of the Al-Mujaida clan in Khan Younis in the days leading up to the ceasefire, resulting in dozens of casualties. The Al-Mujaida family has known ties to Fatah, Hamas’s main Palestinian rival. The relationship between Hamas and the Doghmush family has also been uneasy for nearly two decades, with both families accused by Hamas of collaborating with Israel.
Amidst this internal turmoil, U.S. President Donald Trump appeared to endorse Hamas’s efforts to maintain order in Gaza. Speaking on Air Force One, Trump stated, “They want to stop the problems, and they’ve been open about it, and we gave them an approval for a period of time.” This statement aligns with Hamas’s pledge, as part of Trump’s peace plan, to step down from power in Gaza in favor of an independent administration. However, the specifics of this power transfer and the demilitarization of the territory remain highly contentious, with Hamas refusing to surrender its weapons and criticizing key aspects of the Trump administration’s proposal for an international ‘Board of Peace’ to administer Gaza.