October 11th & 12th Attacks Mark One Of Hamas’s Deadliest Crackdowns, As Palestinian Civilians Once Again Pay The Price.
Tuesday, October 14, 2025, 7:30 A.M. ET. 3 Minute Read, By Jennifer Hodges: Englebrook Independent News,
GAZA CITY, GZ.- In a brutal two-day campaign of internal repression, Hamas militants killed and detained scores of Palestinians in Gaza City on October 11 and 12, in what observers describe as a violent purge of rival groups and critics. The attacks, centered in the Sabra neighborhood, left streets littered with bodies as armed units swept through residential blocks, accusing locals of belonging to “rival militias.”
According to multiple Gaza-based outlets, clan sources, and human rights observers, the violence erupted between Hamas security forces and the Doghmush clan, a long-standing rival with its own militia network. Eyewitnesses and local media reported that at least 27 people were killed, including civilians with no known militia ties. Dozens more were arrested in mass roundups that continued into Sunday night.
Civilians Trapped in the Crossfire;
Residents described harrowing scenes as Hamas gunmen raided damaged apartment buildings and opened fire indiscriminately. Several witnesses said militants dragged victims through the streets and executed suspected opponents in public. Among the dead was Saleh Al-Jafarawi, a popular Gaza social media personality known for his prior pro-Hamas content, who was reportedly shot while filming near the clashes in Sabra.
Hamas has defended its actions, claiming that members of the Doghmush clan attacked one of its commanders, Muhammad Imad Aql, and that the operation was necessary to “restore order.” Clan leaders denied the allegations, accusing Hamas of fabricating pretexts to eliminate opposition and consolidate total control.
Power And Fear After Ceasefire;
The violence follows weeks of redeployments by Hamas across Gaza after President Trump’s peace plan, which began to slow down fighting. Analysts say the group is using the relative lull in external conflict to enforce an internal crackdown targeting families, armed clans, and local figures who might challenge its authority.
Human rights organizations have condemned the killings, warning that Hamas is returning to patterns of extrajudicial executions and disappearances seen in previous purges. With foreign reporters largely barred and Gaza’s press tightly controlled, many victims remain uncounted and unacknowledged.
“The rule of the gun has replaced any semblance of law,” said one Gaza resident, speaking anonymously for fear of reprisal. “We are no longer afraid of airstrikes; we are afraid of our own rulers.”
A Cycle of Violence Without Accountability;
Critics argue that Hamas’s campaign against internal rivals undercuts its own claims of defending Palestinian rights. The group’s tightening control has turned Gaza into what some activists call an “internal occupation,” where dissent is punished more harshly than collaboration.
As Gaza continues to recover from years of war and blockade, the October killings underscore a grim reality: under Hamas rule, even Palestinians who survive external bombardments may not survive internal purges.
Editor’s Note:
This report draws on verified accounts from multiple regional outlets, eyewitness testimony, and documentation from independent analysts. While access to Gaza remains restricted and independent confirmation of every casualty is difficult, reports from several credible sources align on the scope and nature of the events described. The publication maintains a clear editorial position: the deliberate killing of civilians, regardless of justification, constitutes a grave violation of international humanitarian law.
