GAZA CITY — Hamas has mobilised roughly 7,000 members of its security forces to reassert control over areas recently vacated by Israeli troops, according to local sources. The Palestinian group has also appointed five new governors, all with military backgrounds, some previously commanding brigades in its armed wing.
The mobilisation, reportedly communicated via phone calls and text messages, instructed fighters to report within 24 hours to “cleanse Gaza of outlaws and collaborators with Israel.” Armed units have already been deployed across several districts, with some wearing civilian clothes and others in Gaza police uniforms.
Tensions escalated after two members of Hamas’s elite forces were shot dead by gunmen from the powerful Dughmush clan in Gaza City’s Sabra neighbourhood. One of the victims was the son of senior Hamas military intelligence commander Imad Aqel. The bodies were left in the street, sparking anger and the threat of a major Hamas response.
Hamas forces subsequently surrounded areas believed to house over 300 Dughmush gunmen, armed with machine guns and improvised explosives. Reports indicate that Hamas killed one clan member and reportedly kidnapped 30 others. Some of the clan’s weapons had been looted from Hamas depots during the war, while others were long-held by the group.
The mobilisation comes amid rising uncertainty over Gaza’s governance once the war ends. Analysts warn that these moves could complicate the second phase of US President Donald Trump’s peace plan, which calls for Hamas to disarm.
A Hamas official abroad told the BBC that their weapons were legitimate for resisting occupation and insisted they would remain in Gaza as long as the occupation continued. A retired Palestinian security officer warned that Gaza is at risk of internal bloodshed due to the abundance of arms, looters, and frustration among residents.
“Gaza is flooded with arms. Looters have stolen thousands of weapons and rounds of ammunition from Hamas stores during the war,” the officer said. “This is a perfect recipe for civil war: weapons, frustration, chaos, and a movement desperate to reassert control over a shattered population.”
Human rights expert Khalil Abu Shammala noted the uncertainty surrounding Hamas’s willingness to cede control on the ground. “There is widespread fear among many Gazans of potential internal fighting, given the conditions that could fuel it,” he said, highlighting the strain on residents who have endured years of conflict.
Since the ceasefire earlier this week, these developments have intensified concerns in Gaza, leaving residents anxious about the possibility of renewed violence and further disruption to daily life in the already devastated territory.
Hamas’s moves underscore the fragile balance of power in Gaza, where the combination of armed groups, post-war instability, and political uncertainty could derail efforts to stabilise the region and implement peace initiatives.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members