'Mafia-style killings' rock Gaza as Hamas wages brutal crackdown on Dughmush clan amid ceasefire turmoil

According to a BBC report, Hamas recalled about 7,000 members of its security forces this week, instructing them via phone and text message to report for duty within 24 hours to ‘cleanse Gaza of outlaws and collaborators with Israel.’

The fragile calm in Gaza has been shattered by a wave of bloody reprisals after two senior Hamas operatives were gunned down by members of the powerful Dughmush clan in Gaza City's Sabra neighbourhood earlier this week.

One of the slain Hamas men was reportedly the son of Imad Aqel, the group's military intelligence chief and a veteran commander of its armed wing.

Their bodies were left in the street - an act seen as a direct affront to Hamas's authority - triggering an immediate and forceful retaliation. Within hours, Hamas mobilised heavily armed units, sealing off entire districts and surrounding areas believed to be controlled by the Dughmush family. More than 300 clan gunmen, armed with machine guns, grenades, and improvised explosives, were reportedly holed up inside residential blocks as fierce clashes erupted through the night.

By Saturday morning, at least 15 members of the Dughmush clan had been killed, and around 30 others abducted, according to local reports. Hamas forces were seen combing the streets of Sabra and Tel al-Hawa, conducting house-to-house searches and arresting men suspected of affiliation with the clan.

Witnesses and local sources allege that the crackdown has morphed into a campaign of collective punishment, with Hamas fighters executing men solely based on their surname. Posts from Gaza-based users on social media platform X claim that even unarmed civilians sharing the "Dughmush" name have been targeted, with at least one reportedly shot dead despite having no involvement in the fighting.

The internal violence has erupted amid a volatile backdrop. Just days ago, a U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement took effect on October 10, halting major hostilities between Hamas and Israel. However, the Israeli military's withdrawal from several parts of Gaza has created a power vacuum, prompting Hamas to reassert control and root out what it calls "outlaws and collaborators."

According to a BBC report, Hamas recalled about 7,000 members of its security forces this week, instructing them via phone and text message to report for duty within 24 hours to "cleanse Gaza of outlaws and collaborators with Israel." The group has also appointed five new governors, all drawn from military or intelligence ranks, in a clear signal of its intent to restore order through force.

Armed Hamas units - some wearing the blue uniforms of Gaza's police, others in plain clothes - have since deployed across multiple neighbourhoods, establishing checkpoints and patrols. Residents say the atmosphere is tense, with sporadic gunfire and heavy military presence visible throughout Gaza City.

The Dughmush clan, one of Gaza's most influential and well-armed families, has long maintained semi-autonomous control over parts of the enclave. Known for its smuggling networks and past confrontations with Hamas, the clan's rivalry with the militant group has deepened over the years - but the latest outbreak marks one of the most violent internal clashes in recent memory.

Analysts suggest Hamas's actions reflect not only revenge but also a strategic attempt to eliminate rival factions and reassert dominance after months of chaos. Many observers describe the scenes in Gaza as "mafia-style killings," with bodies left in the open and entire families targeted to send a message of fear and submission.

As one Gaza-based source put it: "This isn't just retaliation - it's a warning. Hamas is reclaiming Gaza by force, one neighbourhood at a time."

The crackdown underscores the deepening fractures within Gaza's post-war landscape, as Hamas seeks to consolidate power amid growing public resentment, economic desperation, and the lingering trauma of conflict.