Gaza Clans Reject Israeli Offers, Face Deadly Airstrikes

Israeli intelligence recently approached influential clans in Gaza, offering support in exchange for their assistance in undermining Hamas. The refusal of these clans led to a series of deadly airstrikes carried out by Israel, according to a report by the Saudi-owned newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat and confirmed by security officials in Gaza City.

The report indicates that operatives from Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security service, reached out to leaders from the Bakr and Durmush clans with proposals that included intelligence sharing and military support against Hamas. The aim was to weaken Hamas’s control over the Gaza Strip and prevent the establishment of a Palestinian authority. However, following the clans’ refusal to cooperate, Israel launched airstrikes targeting both occupied and abandoned homes belonging to clan members.

Among the casualties, reports indicate that an airstrike in the Sabra neighborhood of Gaza City resulted in the deaths of at least 30 members of the Durmush clan, with another 20 individuals trapped under the debris. In a separate incident, a strike on a home in the southern region of the al-Shati refugee camp killed six members of the Bakr clan and injured an additional eleven.

Previous attempts to rally local support against Hamas have also faced severe repercussions. An Israeli official described earlier initiatives to arm local groups as a “Shin Bet scheme,” which collapsed after Hamas retaliated against those who engaged with Israel.

Attempts to Foster Alternative Governance

In the early stages of the ongoing conflict, Israel explored the possibility of collaborating with tribal elements as part of a larger strategy to create “humanitarian bubbles” in Gaza. This proposal, advocated by then-Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, aimed to establish alternative local governance structures.

Reports from June 2024 indicate that Israeli intelligence attempted to promote the Durmush clan as a potential leadership alternative. However, Hamas responded forcefully, reportedly executing the clan’s leader and prompting all major clans in Gaza to publicly reaffirm their support for Hamas.

The ongoing cycle of violence underscores the complex and volatile dynamics within Gaza, where attempts to challenge Hamas’s authority continue to face significant hurdles. The situation remains precarious as the region grapples with the aftermath of both military actions and political maneuvering.