Hamas has ordered the recall of roughly 7,000 members of its security forces in an urgent bid to restore authority in Gaza following the withdrawal of Israeli troops and the outbreak of internal violence.
The directive, reportedly sent through calls and text messages, instructed fighters to report within 24 hours to help “cleanse Gaza of outlaws and collaborators.”
Local sources say Hamas has also replaced five regional governors with former military commanders, signalling a shift toward tighter armed control.
Witnesses observed Hamas units in several districts—some in civilian clothes, others in police uniforms—despite official denials of a large-scale deployment.
Tensions escalated sharply after two members of Hamas’s elite Qassam Brigades were killed in Gaza City’s Sabra neighbourhood by gunmen from the influential Dughmush clan.
One of the slain fighters was the son of Imad Aqel, Hamas’s military intelligence chief, intensifying anger within the group.
In retaliation, Hamas forces surrounded an area where hundreds of Dughmush clan gunmen were reportedly gathered, sparking fears of a full-scale confrontation. Local reports indicate that at least one clan member was killed, while around 30 others were detained by Hamas operatives.
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Security analysts say the standoff highlights the fragility of Gaza’s internal balance of power. Many of the clan’s weapons were allegedly stolen from Hamas depots during the war or were acquired over years of local arms trading.
With thousands of weapons in circulation and growing frustration among residents, observers warn of a looming civil conflict if tensions continue to rise.
A Hamas official based abroad defended the mobilisation, stating, “We cannot leave Gaza at the mercy of thieves and militias. Our weapons remain legitimate tools of resistance.”
However, a former Palestinian Authority officer described the move as “a desperate attempt by Hamas to retain control through violence.”
Human rights advocate Khalil Abu Shammala expressed concern that Hamas’s continued involvement in security affairs could undermine the fragile ceasefire and plunge Gaza into deeper chaos. “People are exhausted, and another internal war would only worsen the suffering,” he said.
BBC
