Violent clashes in Gaza on Sunday led to dozens of fatalities, according to local reports, occurring just hours before the anticipated release of hostages in the conflict-stricken area.

These confrontations among local armed groups also preceded a televised address where characterized the imminent hostage release as “the beginning of a new path.”

The president had issued a warning, stating: “The campaign is not over. There are still very great security challenges ahead of us.”

Residents reported that gunfire prompted families to flee in panic. 

“This time people weren’t fleeing Israeli attacks. They were running from their own people,” a witness informed the .

Reports from the Israeli outlet indicate that the violence commenced when Hamas militants launched a raid on the Sabra neighborhood of Gaza City, an area home to the Doghmush clan, also identified as the Al Doghmush family militia.

The report detailed that the Hamas Interior Ministry accused a militia of attacking its forces, while members of the Doghmush clan asserted that Hamas had exploited the ceasefire to target them due to alleged cooperation with Israel.

“Children are screaming and dying, they are burning our houses,” a relative of the clan recounted to Ynet.

“We are trapped. I don’t know how they entered with all kinds of weapons. Where were they when the Jews were here? They arrested all the youths, lined them up against walls, pointed weapons at their heads. There is a massacre here,” another member stated.

Overall, reported that 52 members of the Doghmush clan and 12 Hamas militants perished.

Hamas’s television channel asserted that blogger Salah al-Ja‘farawi, who had reportedly celebrated the October 7 attacks online, was among the casualties. The militant group’s station further alleged that the blogger was fatally shot by “armed gangs operating outside the law” while documenting the confrontations.

The Jerusalem Post also reported the death of the son of senior Hamas official Basem Naim.

A prominent clan member conveyed to Ynet, “We still say – you must not shed Muslim blood by a Muslim.”

subsequently announced a “clemency framework,” enabling militia members and criminals not implicated in bloodshed to surrender by next Sunday, with a warning that non-compliance would lead to “severe punishment.”

Amidst the violence, three publicly declared their backing for President Trump’s peace proposal, thereby rejecting Hamas’s governance in the Gaza Strip.

Israel stated that Hamas is anticipated to release 20 live hostages to the Red Cross by 5 a.m. Eastern Time (noon in Gaza) on Monday.

The hostages are scheduled for transport in six to eight vehicles under Red Cross supervision, and will be transferred to Israeli forces within Gaza. They will then be driven to southern Israel for reunification with their loved ones.

Digital has sought comment from the Israeli Government.