GAZA STRIP: As the Gaza war dragged on, a diminished Hamas faced growing internal challenges to its control of Gaza from long-standing rivals, many of them affiliated with powerful local clans.
Since Friday’s ceasefire took hold, Hamas has sought to reassert itself, killing dozens of opponents in a crackdown after appearing to get a US nod to temporarily police the shattered enclave.
The following are some of the key clans and figures whose members have clashed with Hamas forces over the past two years.
Abu Shabab clan: Yasser Abu Shabab, based in the Rafah area, is the most prominent anti-Hamas clan leader. He operates in a part of southern Gaza still occupied by Israeli forces.
According to a source, his group has recruited hundreds of fighters by offering attractive salaries. Hamas accuses him of collaborating with Israel, a charge he denies.
