New war in Gaza, Hamas clash with local clan

At least 27 people have been killed in fierce clashes between Hamas forces and armed members of the Dughmush family, in one of the most violent internal confrontations since the end of Israeli operations in enclaves.

Hamas' masked men exchanged fire with clan warriors near the Jordanian hospital in the city.

Eyewitnesses said the clashes erupted in Tel al-Hawa neighbourhood in the southern city of Gaza, after a Hamas force of more than 300 fighters moved to attack a residential block where armed men from Dughmush were deployed, follows a2cn.

The Dughmush family, one of Gaza's most prominent clans, has long had a tense relationship with Hamas and its armed members have clashed with the group on several occasions in the past.

The Hamas-led interior ministry said its forces were seeking to restore order, warning that any armed activity outside the framework of resistance would be dealt with decisively.

Both sides exchanged accusations of who was responsible for causing the clashes.

Earlier, Hamas said armed men in Dughmus killed two of his fighters and injured five others, prompting the group to launch an operation against them. /Periscope/