The southern Gaza city experienced one of the fiercest domestic fighting since the war began, pitting Hamas security personnel against gunmen from the al-Mujaida family - among the biggest families in the southern region.
Per Hamas, its forces carried out an operation in the district to arrest people alleged to be collaborating with Israel.
However, local accounts detailed an attack by about 50 men riding in five pickup trucks, equipped with assault rifles and RPG launchers, who invaded the al-Mujaida quarter and eliminated five members from the family.
Armed relatives quickly fought back, sparking hours-long clashes with sustained gunfire.
Reports shared via social media – difficult to independently verify – indicate that at least 11 Hamas members were eliminated, with multiple remains allegedly paraded in the streets.
Videos broadly distributed on the internet, without independent verification, appear to show numerous wounded casualties in military fatigues, along with a narration claiming they were members of Hamas's "special forces unit".
Additional footage recorded sustained shooting and an RPG hitting a apartment block in the neighborhood.
Local elders subsequently stepped in to mediate between the two sides, resulting in an exchange of bodies designed to contain the intensification.
Although the precise reasons remain unclear, the incident has heightened concern among Palestinians.
Numerous residents worry that proliferation of arms, tensions between influential clans and Hamas's political dominance could develop into scenes similar to civil war in a area already experiencing forced relocation, devastation, and anxiety of additional disorder.
Analysts indicate that the extent of hostility which Hamas encounters from its many opponents – some of whom have been marginalized during its lengthy in power – is thought to be a major element influencing the organization to oppose the peace proposal.
Moreover, there is fear of bloody revenge, of facing execution in the public spaces, since the plan requires Hamas to fully surrender weapons.
Reports suggest that the leader of Hamas's armed division in Gaza has expressed disagreement regarding the proposal, which was presented recently.
The proposal includes a cut-off point for Hamas to accept or encounter significant repercussions.
