Palestinian armed factions operating in the Gaza Strip, which have been eroding Hamas authority in the territory's southern regions, played a central role in this week's shooting incident that international media initially attributed to Israeli forces. Throughout the week, we reported eyewitness testimony and Palestinian sources indicating the violence erupted after Hamas operatives used weapons and warning shots to intimidate Gaza residents attempting to reach food distribution sites.
New information confirms that the armed groups who challenged Hamas efforts to block civilian access to aid centers belong to prominent tribal networks across southern Gaza, which are supposedly associated with ISIS and have been receiving arms from Israel. According to eyewitness Salah, armed Hamas personnel confronted a civilian convoy approaching the distribution point. The encounter escalated into stone-throwing directed at Hamas forces, who withdrew to elevated ground nearby while at least one operative discharged his weapon.
During this phase, Salah detailed, civilians began fleeing as gunfire targeted those moving toward the aid facility, wounding several people. The tribal armed groups then engaged Hamas directly, killing a minimum of two Hamas operatives through targeted shooting. Hamas dispatch of additional forces transformed the confrontation into widespread armed combat, resulting in casualties among both civilians and combatants numbering in the dozens.
These Gaza-based accounts receive corroboration from Israeli security officials, though formal acknowledgment of these specifics remains absent. One security source informed Israel Hayom that these same armed factions now exercise territorial control across substantial portions of southern Gaza, with numerous residents seeking their protection against Hamas persecution.
Arab media reports indicate these group members have additionally challenged Hamas authority over humanitarian supply convoys traveling to non-IDF controlled territories. Multiple instances show these factions intercepting aid shipments for direct distribution to populations under their protection.
Hamas released statements through its controlled "Ministry of Health" claiming IDF tank units targeted Gaza civilians approaching supply distribution points. Global media outlets initially published these allegations without verification, with only select publications issuing corrections after the claims proved false.
Both aid distribution facilities will restore complete operations on Friday following a 48-hour suspension for organizational restructuring and infrastructure maintenance. Additional centers in central and southern Gaza will become operational within days, while officials evaluate establishing another distribution point in northern Gaza.
