The situation in Gaza has intensified dramatically, with reports indicating numerous deaths amidst fierce clashes that erupted over the weekend. Local sources suggest that at least 52 members of the Doghmush clan and 12 militants affiliated with Hamas have lost their lives.
This outbreak of violence coincided with the anticipated release of hostages, leading to panic among families in the area.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu used a televised address to highlight the potential for a fresh start, describing the release as “the beginning of a new path.” However, he also warned that significant security challenges still lie ahead for Israel.
Witnesses described a scene of chaos where families were fleeing gunfire, albeit from their own neighborhood militia rather than Israeli forces. One resident poignantly remarked to the BBC, “People weren’t running from Israeli attacks this time; they were escaping their own people.”
In what started as a Hamas raid on the Doghmush clan’s home turf in Gaza City, accusations have flown back and forth. The Hamas Interior Ministry claims that their forces were under attack, while the Doghmush clan asserts that Hamas used a recent ceasefire to target them due to alleged collusion with Israel.
“Our children are in agony, and our homes are being torched,” cried out a relative of the clan to Ynet. Another clan member lamented, “We’re trapped. I can’t believe they breached our defenses with their weapons. Where were they when Israeli forces were on the ground? They’ve detained our youth and threatened them with firearms. There’s a massacre underway right now!”
In total, the death toll includes 52 clan members and 12 Hamas operatives, as reported by Ynet.
Meanwhile, it is notable that a blogger named Salah al-Ja‘farawi, who had reportedly celebrated attacks on that date, was also killed during the chaos. The Hamas-run media have blamed “armed gangs beyond the law” for his death.
Additionally, a key Hamas figure’s son, Basem Naim, lost his life in the conflict. A senior member of the Doghmush clan stated, “We maintain our position that Muslims should not spill each other’s blood.”
In an effort to restore some measure of order, Hamas’s Interior and National Security Ministry announced a “clemency framework,” allowing non-violent militia members to surrender by next Sunday. Those who do not comply face severe penalties.
As battling continues, it is worth noting that three anti-Hamas militias have expressed their support for President Trump’s peace proposal, reaffirming their rejection of Hamas’s control in Gaza.
Further updates indicate that Hamas plans to release 20 imprisoned hostages to the Red Cross, with the handover expected by 5 a.m. Eastern time on Monday. The transfer will include a fleet of 6 to 8 vehicles under Red Cross management, from where the hostages will be taken to reunite with their families in southern Israel.
Original article source:Gaza Conflict Escalates: Multiple Casualties as Clans Clash with Hamas
