Hamas Reasserts Control in Gaza: Security Forces Mobilized Amid Clan Tensions

The Palestinian group Hamas is moving aggressively to re-establish its authority in areas of the Gaza Strip recently vacated by Israeli troops. According to local sources, the group has recalled approximately 7,000 members of its security forces and appointed five new governors, all with significant military backgrounds, to key positions.

The urgent mobilization order was reportedly distributed via phone and text message, instructing fighters to report within 24 hours to “cleanse Gaza of outlaws and collaborators with Israel.” Reports indicate that armed Hamas units, some in civilian clothes and others in police uniforms, are already deploying across several districts.

The swift security push comes immediately after a sharp escalation of internal tensions. Two members of Hamas’s elite forces were fatally shot by gunmen from the powerful Dughmush clan in Gaza City’s Sabra neighbourhood. One of the victims was the son of Imad Aqel, a senior commander now heading Hamas’s military intelligence, sparking outrage and an immediate response from the group.

Following the killings, Hamas forces quickly surrounded an area where over 300 Dughmush gunmen, armed with machine guns and improvised explosives—some looted from Hamas depots during the war—were believed to be hiding. This morning, Hamas killed one clan member and reportedly kidnapped 30 others.

The Hamas mobilization was widely expected amid profound uncertainty regarding who will ultimately govern Gaza following the end of the devastating two-year conflict. This urgent reassertion of control could significantly complicate the second phase of US President Donald Trump’s peace plan, which explicitly calls for the disarmament of Hamas.

A Hamas official, speaking to the BBC from abroad, defended the action, stating: “We cannot leave Gaza at the mercy of thieves and militias backed by the Israeli occupation… Our weapons are legitimate… to resist occupation, and they will remain as long as the occupation continues.”

The developments have sparked deep concern among Gazans already worn down by the protracted conflict. A retired Palestinian Authority security officer warned that Gaza is sliding toward another round of internal bloodshed, noting that the territory is “flooded with arms” looted from Hamas stores and supplied by various groups.

Human rights expert Khalil Abu Shammala echoed the concern, pointing out the “widespread fear among many Gazans of potential internal fighting.” He suggested that Hamas, despite being pressured to accept the peace plan, may seek to obstruct its implementation by maintaining influence through security affairs, an action that could “jeopardise the agreement” and worsen the suffering of Gaza’s residents.