When Hamas Fights Its Own: The Unraveling of Social Order in Gaza
The cycle of revenge killings between Hamas and Gaza families reveals a governance crisis that threatens to consume the very social fabric the group claims to protect.
The Breakdown of Authority
The recent deadly clash in Khan Yunis between Hamas members and the Al-Majidah family represents more than an isolated incident of violence—it signals a fundamental erosion of Hamas’s monopoly on force in Gaza. For over 17 years, Hamas has positioned itself as both the governing authority and the sole legitimate armed resistance against Israel. This dual role has allowed the group to suppress internal dissent by framing any challenge to its authority as collaboration with the enemy. However, when Hamas fighters themselves become the perpetrators of violence against Palestinian civilians, this narrative collapses.
A Pattern of Internal Strife
The killing and subsequent revenge attack in Khan Yunis follows a disturbing pattern of internal Palestinian violence that has accelerated in recent months. Economic desperation, exacerbated by the ongoing blockade and recent military operations, has created a powder keg of social tensions. Hamas, which once commanded respect through its provision of social services and resistance credentials, now faces accusations of corruption, favoritism, and abuse of power. The Al-Majidah family’s willingness to directly retaliate against Hamas—an act that would have been unthinkable just years ago—demonstrates how significantly the group’s deterrent power has diminished.
Local sources suggest that such clan-based conflicts have become increasingly common as Hamas’s formal justice system fails to provide adequate resolution to disputes. Traditional tribal mediation mechanisms, which have historically played a crucial role in Palestinian society, are being sidelined by Hamas’s insistence on maintaining judicial control. Yet when Hamas members themselves are involved in criminal acts, the system breaks down entirely, leaving families with no recourse but blood revenge.
The Wider Implications for Palestinian Governance
This incident in Khan Yunis illuminates a broader crisis of legitimacy facing not just Hamas, but the entire Palestinian political establishment. As the Palestinian Authority loses relevance in the West Bank and Hamas struggles to maintain order in Gaza, ordinary Palestinians are increasingly reverting to pre-modern forms of justice and protection. The rise of family-based militias and revenge killings represents a regression from the state-building project that Palestinians have pursued for decades.
For Israel and the international community, this internal Palestinian fragmentation presents both opportunities and dangers. While a weakened Hamas might seem advantageous from a security perspective, the complete breakdown of social order in Gaza could create an even more chaotic and unpredictable environment. The emergence of clan-based violence and vigilante justice makes any future political settlement more difficult to achieve, as there would be no unified Palestinian partner capable of enforcing agreements.
As Gaza descends further into lawlessness, the question becomes not whether Hamas can maintain its grip on power, but whether any form of organized governance can survive the combined pressures of siege, poverty, and social disintegration. Will the international community continue to treat Hamas as Gaza’s de facto government even as its authority crumbles from within, or is it time to reconsider the entire framework through which we understand Palestinian politics?
