GAZA CITY — The Hamas regime has rejoined its battle against a leading
Palestinian clan in the Gaza Strip.
Palestinian sources said Hamas security forces have renewed attacks on
the Dughmoush clan, based in Gaza City. The clan, with a following of nearly
15,000, has been regarded as the largest anti-Hamas group in the region.
"Dughmoush kept a low profile in late 2007, but now feels sufficiently
confident to resume its criminal operations," a Palestinian source familiar
with the clan said.
On April 5, Hamas police sent officers to break up a Dughmoush criminal
cell. The officers went to the home of an unidentified Dughmoush clan member
in Tel El Hawa outside Gaza City.
The four-man police squad saw the Dughmoush target and gave chase.
Dughmoush gunmen opened fire and a Hamas police officer, identified as
24-year-old Hamid Hamed El Sakani, was injured.
The other Hamas officers returned fire. Later that day, the suspect was
arrested.
The sources said the Dughmoush clan has been involved in running drugs,
car theft and racketeering around Gaza City and northern Gaza. They said
after a lull in mid-2007 tension has also resumed between Dughmoush and
rival clans in Gaza City.
The clan, led by Mumtaz Dughmoush, has been identified with the Fatah
opposition movement since 2006. Over the last six months, the sources said,
Dughmoush sought to recruit other clans against the Hamas regime.
