Local Palestinian groups fight Hamas in post-ceasefire Gaza

After a series of armed clashes between Hamas terrorists and local Palestinian groups, sources from Palestine are saying that there’s a significant breakdown in security throughout the Gaza Strip.

In Beit Lahia, there was a shootout between gunmen linked to Ashraf al-Mansi and Hamas forces. Meanwhile, there was another clash in the Sabra neighbourhood of Gaza City involving the Dajmash clan and Hamas.

During this confrontation, Muhammad Imad Aql, the son of a high-ranking Hamas military commander who had been assassinated earlier, lost his life.

On Friday night, Hamas forces surrounded the al-Dhamsha family neighbourhood in the al-Sabra area of Gaza City. They evacuated schools and residential towers, and there were snipers along with a bunch of masked, armed guys all over the place.

Palestinian sources say that Hamas sees the rebellious clans as a direct threat to its control over Gaza City. During the war, Hamas took action against the mukhtar (chief) of the Dajmash clan, which is one of the armed families in northern Gaza.

They were concerned that Israel might attempt to leverage the clan against them. To tackle the uprising, Hamas dispatched some of its top fighters to try and take out Yasser Abu Shabab, who leads the Rafah militia. The attempt at the assassination didn’t go as planned.

In the meantime, Hussam al-Astal, who leads an armed group against Hamas in Khan Yunis, took to Facebook to share a bold post, really going after the organisation.

“Hey Hamas folks,” he wrote, “your tunnels are gone, and your rights are a thing of the past.” It’s time to rethink things before it’s too late – starting today, there won’t be any Hamas.

Al-Astal also talked about the clashes from last week, when Hamas supposedly attempted to launch an attack on the al-Majaida clan in Khan Yunis. He mentioned that Hamas gunmen took cover inside Nasser Hospital and a nearby mosque, launching RPGs and explosives at the clan’s members from those locations.

He said that the IDF helped take out the Hamas cell with an airstrike that resulted in the deaths of at least 22 militants. The IDF spokesperson has confirmed that the strike took place.

After all that happened, Hamas officials started calling for revenge against the armed groups they believe worked with Israel. Channels linked to the organisation shared their plans to “settle accounts” with the leaders of the groups — like Abu Shabab, al-Astal, Rami Khalas, and al-Mansi.

So, there are these rival groups, including Abu Shabab’s “Popular Forces”, that are mainly active in areas where, as per the initial ceasefire deal, the IDF won’t be pulling out. We’re talking about places like eastern Rafah, parts of Beit Lahia and Beit Hanoun, and eastern Khan Yunis.

These regions are actually outside both the “yellow line” and the “red line” on the map that’s part of the agreement.

Al-Astal stated that his team is still active: ‘Let the Hamas dogs not celebrate – we’re here, and they’re the ones who will fall.’

People familiar with Abu Shabab mentioned that his forces aren’t fazed by the threats. A senior member of the group mentioned, “Just like Hamas gave in under pressure and agreed to release hostages, it will eventually give up its heavy weapons too.”