From the Liveblog of
Sunday, October 12, 2025
Reasserting control, Hamas forces reportedly begin taking down rival militias
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Nurit Yohanan is The Times of Israel's Palestinian and Arab world correspondent
The Saudi daily Asharq Al-Awsat reports that armed Hamas operatives in northern Gaza have begun hunting down militias opposed to their rule, as they seek to reassert power in the Strip following the partial withdrawal of Israeli troops.
Security forces — including the Internal Security branch, which is responsible for maintaining order, and the intelligence apparatus of Hamas’s military wing — have in recent days begun deploying in the Jabaliya neighborhood and refugee camp in the northeast of Gaza City, according to the report.
According to the report, Hamas operatives have killed some militia members and arrested others.
Yesterday, outlets affiliated with Hamas reported that the group killed several members of the Dormush family, which has previously been reported as resisting Hamas. The clan later put out a statement denying the claim.
In southern Gaza, where some armed clans had begun attempting to carve out anti-Hamas enclaves, reportedly with the support and protection of Israel, militia leader Hussam al-Astal distributed a video to journalists yesterday denying reports that Hamas had killed a fellow anti-Hamas militia commander in northern Gaza.
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