Dozens die in Hamas–Doghmush Gaza clashes
Hamas forces and the Doghmush (Al‑Doghmush) clan fought in Gaza City’s Sabra neighborhood on Sunday, with local reports citing at least 64 dead as Hamas accused clan militias of attacking its forces and alleged cooperation with Israel, while clan members said Hamas exploited the ceasefire to target them. Hamas’s Interior Ministry announced a 'clemency framework' for militia members not implicated in bloodshed to surrender by next Sunday, warning severe punishment for holdouts; the violence came hours before an expected Red Cross‑mediated release of 20 hostages under a U.S.-brokered deal.
War & Conflict
International
📌 Key Facts
- At least 64 killed (52 Doghmush clan members, 12 Hamas militants) reported by Ynet
- Hamas Interior and National Security Ministry announced a surrender 'clemency framework' with a one‑week deadline
- Hostage release logistics: 20 living hostages to ICRC by 5 a.m. ET Monday, via 6–8 vehicles
📚 Contextual Background
- When the leadership echelon of an armed group is degraded or communications are disrupted, decentralized or multiple armed actors can complicate centralized control and communication, which can make coordinated, full hostage releases difficult and lead to staged or phased releases as logistics permit.
- A 2025 U.S. peace plan specified that Hamas would release 48 remaining hostages, about 20 of whom were believed to be alive, within three days.
- A 2025 U.S. peace plan linked a hostage release to a reciprocal exchange involving Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
- U.S. officials in 2025 described a two-phase approach to ceasefire negotiations in which an initial hostage release would be followed by an Israeli military pullback to a previously held boundary position, while decisions about Gaza's future governing structure could be negotiated concurrently.