Kathmandu, Oct. 13 -- At least 27 people have died in fierce fighting between Hamas security forces and armed members of the Dughmush family in Gaza City, in what the BBC described as one of the bloodiest internal clashes since Israel's withdrawal from most parts of the enclave.

Witnesses told the BBC that masked Hamas gunmen exchanged fire with Dughmush clan fighters near the Jordanian hospital area. A senior official from the Hamas-run interior ministry said security forces surrounded the fighters before engaging in hours of heavy gunfire. The ministry said eight of its members were killed during what it called "an armed assault by a militia," according to the BBC.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Republic...