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The southern Gaza city saw some of the most intense internal clashes since the war began, pitting Hamas security personnel against armed members from the al-Mujaida family - a major clans in the southern region.

As stated by Hamas officials, its security personnel carried out an operation in the district to detain people accused of cooperating with Israel.

However, local accounts detailed an offensive by around fifty armed individuals traveling in multiple vehicles, armed with automatic weapons and a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) launcher, who entered forcefully the al-Mujaida neighborhood and killed five members from the clan.

Armed relatives quickly fought back, triggering hours-long confrontations with intense gunfire.

Information shared via social media – hard to authenticate – suggest that over eleven Hamas personnel were killed, with several corpses allegedly dragged through the public areas.

Footage extensively circulated on the internet, without independent verification, appear to show numerous bloodied bodies in military fatigues, along with a narration stating they belonged to Hamas's "special forces unit".

Another clip captured sustained shooting and a rocket-propelled grenade impacting a residential building in the neighborhood.

Community leaders later intervened to negotiate between the two sides, leading to an exchange of bodies intended to contain the deterioration.

Even though the precise reasons continue to be ambiguous, the confrontation has increased apprehension among Gaza residents.

Numerous residents fear that proliferation of arms, tensions between powerful families and Hamas's control over governance could develop into circumstances reminiscent of internal conflict in a region already experiencing forced relocation, destruction, and concern of further lawlessness.

Analysts indicate that the degree of hostility which Hamas encounters from its various rivals – some of whom have been marginalized during its lengthy rule – is considered a key factor motivating the movement to oppose the peace proposal.

Furthermore, there is fear of violent retribution, of meeting violent ends in the streets, since the agreement mandates Hamas to fully surrender weapons.

Sources suggest that the head of Hamas's military wing in Gaza has shown reluctance regarding the plan, which was presented recently.

The agreement includes a deadline for Hamas to agree or confront significant repercussions.