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The southern Gaza city experienced some of the most intense internal clashes since the conflict started, pitting Hamas security forces against gunmen from the al-Mujaida clan - a major families in the southern region.

Per Hamas, its security personnel carried out an operation in the area to arrest individuals suspected of cooperating with Israel.

Conversely, resident testimonies recounted an attack by around 50 men riding in five pickup trucks, equipped with automatic weapons and a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) launcher, who entered forcefully the al-Mujaida neighborhood and eliminated five members from the clan.

Family members with weapons quickly fought back, sparking prolonged clashes with heavy gunfire.

Information circulating on online platforms – difficult to independently verify – claim that more than 11 Hamas members were killed, with several corpses supposedly pulled along the public areas.

Recordings extensively circulated on the internet, which remain unverified, purportedly display multiple wounded casualties in military fatigues, along with a voiceover alleging they belonged to Hamas's "special forces unit".

Another clip recorded sustained shooting and an RPG hitting a apartment block in the district.

Community leaders later intervened to facilitate talks among the conflicting parties, resulting in an transfer of remains aimed at control the escalation.

Although the underlying causes continue to be ambiguous, the clash has increased anxiety among Gaza residents.

Many worry that proliferation of arms, tensions between influential clans and Hamas's political dominance could escalate into scenes reminiscent of internal conflict in a territory already affected by displacement, devastation, and fear of increased chaos.

Analysts suggest that the level of hostility which Hamas confronts from its various rivals – some of whom have been marginalized during its seventeen-year in power – is considered a key factor influencing the movement to oppose the truce agreement.

Moreover, there is fear of violent retribution, of facing execution in the public spaces, since the proposal demands Hamas to fully surrender weapons.

Reports suggest that the commander of Hamas's military wing in Gaza has voiced opposition regarding the proposal, which was presented recently.

The ceasefire plan includes a deadline for Hamas to agree or face serious outcomes.