Khan Younis, located in southern Gaza experienced one of the fiercest internal clashes since the war began, pitting Hamas security personnel against gunmen from the al-Mujaida family - a major families in southern Gaza.
According to Hamas officials, its security personnel conducted a raid in the neighborhood to apprehend individuals accused of collaborating with Israeli authorities.
Conversely, eyewitness reports described an offensive by approximately fifty armed individuals traveling in five pickup trucks, equipped with automatic weapons and RPG launchers, who entered forcefully the al-Mujaida neighborhood and fatally shot five members from the family.
Clan fighters rapidly responded, sparking extended clashes with intense exchanges of fire.
Accounts circulating on online platforms – difficult to independently verify – claim that more than 11 Hamas members were fatally wounded, with multiple remains allegedly dragged through the public areas.
Videos widely shared online, which remain unverified, seem to depict numerous injured bodies in combat uniforms, along with a narration alleging they pertained to Hamas's "special forces unit".
Separate video showed bursts of gunfire and an RPG striking a housing structure in the neighborhood.
Tribal mediators eventually mediated to negotiate among the conflicting parties, culminating in an handover of casualties intended to contain the escalation.
Although the exact motives remain unclear, the incident has heightened apprehension among local population.
Numerous residents worry that abundance of firearms, tensions between influential clans and Hamas's political dominance could develop into scenes reminiscent of civil war in a area already experiencing forced relocation, damage, and concern of increased chaos.
Analysts suggest that the degree of hostility which Hamas encounters from its many opponents – some of whom have been marginalized during its seventeen-year rule – is considered a key factor motivating the organization to decline the truce agreement.
Additionally, there is fear of deadly retaliation, of meeting violent ends in the streets, since the agreement mandates Hamas to give up all arms.
Reports suggest that the leader of Hamas's military wing in Gaza has voiced opposition regarding the initiative, which was presented recently.
The agreement includes a time limit for Hamas to comply or confront significant repercussions.
