Gaza, Oct 13 (V7N) – A deadly clash erupted in Gaza City between Hamas security forces and armed members of the Dughmush family, leaving at least 27 people dead. The confrontation occurred near the Jordanian Hospital in southern Gaza City, marking one of the most violent internal conflicts in the area following recent Israeli military operations, according to the BBC.

Officials from the Hamas-controlled Interior Ministry reported that Hamas security units surrounded an armed militia inside the city to detain them, leading to intense fighting. Eight Hamas fighters and nineteen Dughmush family members were killed in the exchange of gunfire that began on Saturday.

Eyewitnesses said over 300 Hamas fighters launched an assault on a residential block where Dughmush gunmen had taken shelter in the Tel al-Hawa area, triggering the conflict. Residents described scenes of panic as several families fled their homes amid heavy gunfire; many had already been displaced multiple times during previous conflicts.

One local resident stated, “This time, people were not fleeing Israeli attacks; they were running from their own people.”

The Dughmush family has long-standing tensions with Hamas, and its armed members have previously clashed with the group on several occasions. The Hamas Interior Ministry confirmed that its forces are working to restore order and warned that “any armed activity outside the framework of resistance” will be strictly dealt with.

Both sides have blamed each other for initiating the conflict. Hamas stated that Dughmush gunmen had killed two of their fighters and injured five more, prompting a targeted operation. However, a Dughmush family source told local media that Hamas forces attempted to evict the family from a building that previously served as the Jordanian Hospital, where they had sought shelter after their homes in Al-Sabra were destroyed in recent Israeli attacks. The source claimed that Hamas aimed to establish a new base in the building.

The incident underscores ongoing tensions within Gaza and the fragile security situation in areas controlled by Hamas, highlighting the risks posed to civilians caught between rival armed groups.

END/WD/AJ/