Deadly clashes erupt between Hamas and Gaza extended family after ceasefire

Orientation and Consideration on the Clashes in Gaza Following the Ceasefire

Introduction

The conflict-ridden region of the Gaza Strip again witnessed alarming unrest on October 13, 2025, as violent confrontations broke out between the political Islamist movement Hamas and a prominent extended family in Gaza City shortly after the implementation of the ceasefire agreement. Implementation of the truce between Israel and Hamas began to take shape at the end of the previous week. However, the peace was shattered through casualties and arrests alike as the fighters of Hamas charged against armed members of an extended family—the so-called Doghmush clan. Witnesses placed in Gaza City reported these violent confrontations, and according to the state media arm AFP, the exchanges took place late on Sunday night. The escalating violence again reflected the deeper political divisions and hostilities that were still there even amidst the ultimate agreement by both parties on war ceasefire.

Analysis

Historical Tensions with Gaza Clans

Hamas has always been in an existential struggle with some powerful clans in Gaza, such as the Doghmush family. For example, this particular conflict between the two parties has witnessed previous incidents where Hamas accused certain families of having ties with Israel as a pretext for either violence or intimidation against that clan. For instance, there had been a particular period when the Doghmush family was accused by Hamas of committing large-scale murders in a supposedly coordinated manner with the Israeli security apparatus, which never saw a shred of evidence at the time. This accusation thus establishes the pattern that one faction often accuses the other of disloyalty, leading to the targeting and persecution of specific groups within the Palestinian population.

Impact of the Ceasefire Agreement

The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas that came into effect on Friday had been envisioned as a means to stabilise the region; both parties promised to reduce hostilities so that the civilian population could enjoy the benefits of the reduced violence. This period of peace, albeit brief, seemed to be riddled with old political rivalries. The continuing efforts by Hamas to enforce order at its facilities were in direct confrontation with those of the Doghmush clan. This, therefore, became one of the first major violent confrontations since the ceasefire: a disconcerting development for the peaceholders, Easterly said that, at a minimum, however fragile any period of truce, political rivalries should have a clause for dispute resolution, especially during such sensitive periods as periods of ceasefire. An amnesty period was declared for members of criminal gangs who had not perpetrated murder during the wars, which was aimed at decreasing tensions but was bluntly undermined once again by this crackdown.

Civilian Impact and Fear

Civilians were most often the victims of such clashes, and it turned out no different this time. To that end, there is a Sabra neighborhood, which, according to residents, had been a battleground for most of the night before the clashes. Reports that Hamas had mobilised over 200 armed guards to confront the Doghmush family heightened fears among civilians, who described a tense atmosphere and scenes of confrontation. Some of the residents told AFP that they spent much of the night indoors, keeping a safe distance from the fire-fight. Another effect was the death and injury to many members of the Doghmush family, plus several of Hamas soldiers. This, too, may cause a raised suspicion among the populace, who are therefore trapped between the cross-fire and the two warring factions.

Summary

The massacre seen in Gaza on the 13th of October was a tragic indication of the fact that political rivalries and historical disputes could destabilize further an almost fragile peace. While Hamas arrested 60 Doghmush family members, claiming that they were in collusion with the Israeli army, the same clan denied these accusations while acknowledging that several of its members had been responsible for some transgressions. Battles took place more than an entire day in the very Sabra sector of Dubai and, as such, urgency for grassroots awareness by one of the continued deployment by Hamas provided chaos. Accusations were based on identification and not the act itself, which sets a dangerous precedent for further family-targeted cyclical violence.

Key Points

Incident Overview

Violent confrontations took place in Gaza City on Sunday night between Hamas security forces and the Doghmush extended family.

Casualties and Damage

Casualty reporting indicated both fatalities and injuries among Styga members including members of the Doghmush clan and also members of the Hamas formation. Residents identified the Sabra quarter of Gaza City as the principal battleground where shooting usually lasted more than four hours before it diminished.

Arrests and Allegations

Hamas detained 60 members of the family in Doghmush, claiming that they worked with Israeli forces, while targeting the entire family through arrests and destruction of houses. The members of the clan have denied the Westwood enemies’ combination but have also said that some of its members had done wrong, without perceivably saying what.

Hamas Amnesty Program

The Gaza Interior Ministry announced an amnesty period that did not apply to perpetrators of murder, but it proved fruitless—any progress in a settlement of such tensions is undermined by inter-clan hostilities.

Practical Advice

Monitoring Regional Stability Post-Ceasefire

Hamas needs to uphold ceasefire agreements with their meaning in action, as well as the local and international actors with regard to planned steps of reconciliation and conflict resolution.

Protecting Civilian Populations

Civilian safety must be given priority in every single protocol involving ceasefires, including setting aside safe zones and attaining indifference to the parties involved in the conflict.

Promoting Dialogue and Reintegration

Mediation and accommodation processes between the Palestinian National Authority, Hamas, as well as local leaders, may prevent escalation, especially as regard clan-GPM protection parameters.

Points of Caution

Accusations Without Verification

It is possible that allegations against recipient groups without the contentious need for evidentiary processes be used as an abuse by Hamas of authority over civil liberties. These claims have significant ramifications with regard to international law.

MiGratation Between Updated False Narratives

As safety frailties intensify, so do the disinformation problems. It is really very crucial to use the information from reliable sources instead of believing the sensational reports.

Local Governance Challenges

The past events prove the difficulties that local leadership in Gaza then poses with regard to enforcing control on its grounds without being misused against their diversity.

Comparisons

Comparing the Clashes to Previous Incidents

This again resembles previous hostilities between Hamas and Gaza’s native families, such as when Hamas accused the Sahnouni clan of being treacherous in 2011. These confrontations demonstrate a pattern in which political rivalries entangle the very identity of visibility minorities within the locality and thereby, the agenda of the state.

Global Precedents for Post-Ceasefire Violence

This should also draw a parallel with other frozen conflict situations where the truce for being finalized militarily involved co-existing political cleavages. With Armenia and Azerbaijan being one such example, the ceasefire agreement there is torn apart once the hostilities die automatically. The other possible model that could be effective consists of involving third-party mediators to stress on the path to peace.

Legal Implications

Legalities intended to be addressed around the type of arrests and fatalities which are characterized by absence of due process, for instance, the arrest of 60 members of the Doghmush family under somewhat unsubstantiated allegations from Hamas’ side would be a breach of international human rights standards: freedom of association and the right against unfair detention, hospitably applied. Further, the apotheosis of the use of armed forces to counter intra-Palestinian society leads on to yet a further dimension of accountability, in that it is normally seen that traditional approaches of conflict resolution predicated on customary law are in obsolescence in the contemporary conjuncture.

Conclusion

The violent clashes between the Hamas security forces and the Doghmush family are another poignant reminder of how easily peace can break down because of pre-existing political and family grievances. The ceasefire should ensure the protection of civilians and facilitation of dialogue; the violence rather seems to violate that objective. The path to a lasting peace is one where history is reconciled between grievances, political divide, and local truth, despite the global face of it wearing only a veneer made of words.

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