Deadly Clashes Erupt Between Hamas and Doghmush Clan in Gaza After Ceasefire ,Who Are the Doghmush and Why the Violence?

Over the weekend, Gaza City descended into violence as fierce clashes erupted between Hamas security forces and the Doghmush clan, one of the most powerful and heavily armed families in the Gaza Strip. The confrontation, which left several people dead and many more wounded, highlights a deeper struggle for power and control within the besieged enclave—beyond the familiar conflict with Israel.

According to reports from multiple sources, including eyewitnesses and Gaza-based officials, the violence began late last week, shortly after a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took effect. What started as localized tension between the two sides quickly escalated into open gunfights in several neighborhoods, particularly the Sabra district of Gaza City, a densely populated area long known as a stronghold of the Doghmush family.

By Sunday evening, witnesses described scenes of chaos as around 200 Hamas security officers stormed the area, engaging in prolonged firefights until the clan members were "completely subdued." Residents reported that both sides suffered casualties, with fatalities and injuries among Doghmush members and Hamas fighters alike. Calm reportedly returned only around 9:30 p.m., following hours of intense gunfire.

A source in Hamas’ Interior Ministry later confirmed that there had been fatalities on both sides and that approximately 60 Doghmush family members were arrested. The ministry accused the clan of collaborating with Israeli forces and being responsible for multiple murders and criminal acts within Gaza. Officials further alleged that the Doghmush clan had been operating as a “criminal gang”, undermining Hamas’ authority during and after the recent war.

The Doghmush family, however, rejected these accusations. In a public statement, clan representatives denied any collaboration with Israel but acknowledged that some family members might have committed “transgressions,” without elaborating on what they were. They also accused Hamas of carrying out a campaign of collective punishment, claiming that the security forces were indiscriminately targeting anyone linked to their family.

“In recent days, it was enough to belong to the Doghmush family to be shot in the legs, killed, arrested, or have your house burned down,”
wrote Abu al-Hassan Doghmush, one of the clan’s senior figures, on Facebook.

Who Are the Doghmush Clan?

The Doghmush clan is one of Gaza’s most influential and well-armed families, known for maintaining its own militia-style armed groups. Historically, the family has had a complex relationship with various factions, including Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and al-Qaeda-linked elements. During the 2000s, Doghmush fighters were accused of kidnapping foreign journalists and aid workers, including the 2007 abduction of BBC reporter Alan Johnston, who was later released following negotiations involving Hamas.

The clan’s stronghold lies in Gaza City’s Sabra and al-Zaitoun neighborhoods, where it maintains significant local influence, often acting independently of Hamas authorities. While Hamas has attempted to integrate or dismantle such power structures since taking control of Gaza in 2007, families like the Doghmush have continued to resist full subordination, occasionally clashing with Hamas police and internal security forces.

Why the Conflict Erupted

The latest violence appears to have been triggered by renewed efforts by Hamas to assert control over Gaza’s armed clans after the Israel-Hamas ceasefire. With the truce halting Israeli airstrikes, Hamas turned inward, focusing on consolidating power and cracking down on what it calls “criminal elements” operating under the cover of war chaos.

The Interior Ministry’s announcement on Sunday of a “general amnesty” for “members of criminal gangs” who had not committed murder during the conflict is widely seen as part of this campaign. However, in practice, the operation in Sabra suggests Hamas is using force to stamp out dissent and enforce its monopoly over security and arms in the territory.

Analysts say the Doghmush clan may have resisted Hamas’ attempts to disarm or arrest its members, viewing such actions as an attack on their autonomy. The resulting firefights underscore the fragile internal dynamics of Gaza’s governance, where Hamas faces not only external threats from Israel but also domestic challenges from powerful families and militias that wield local loyalty and weaponry.

Broader Implications

These clashes reveal the growing tension within post-war Gaza, where the balance between law enforcement, clan power, and militant authority remains unstable. Hamas’ need to maintain internal control is more critical than ever, especially as it seeks to demonstrate governance stability following months of devastating conflict.

Yet, the bloody confrontation with the Doghmush clan may also expose Hamas’ vulnerability—its struggle to control all armed factions under its rule. Such internal conflicts risk undermining public trust, worsening humanitarian suffering, and potentially inviting renewed chaos at a time when Gaza’s recovery is already precarious.

As the ceasefire holds externally, Gaza faces a different kind of war within its walls—a war for dominance, loyalty, and control among those who claim to defend it.