{{pp|small=yes}} {{Short description|Palestinian family in Gaza}} The '''Doghmush''' family ({{langx|ar|دغمش|Duġmuš}}) is a [[Palestinian people|Palestinian]] clan from the [[Gaza Strip]] known for its long-running rivalry with [[ Hamas]]. <ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/15/world/middleeast/hamas-crackdown-rivals-gaza.html Hamas seeks revenge on rivals in Gaza]</ref> [[Nizar Doghmush]] is the ''[[de facto]]'' [[leader]] of the clan, while [[Mukhtar Doghmush]] was the leader of the clan’s northern branch. [[Mumtaz Dughmush|Mumtaz Doghmush]] was the historical leader of the clan.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-10-24 |title=Inside post-ceasefire Gaza: Israel-backed militias, clan wars and Hamas’s fight to survive |url=https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20251024-gaza-militias-clan-wars-hamas-power-struggle-2025 |access-date=2025-12-22 |website=France 24 |language=en}}</ref>
==Spelling== The family originally came to Gaza from Turkey in the early 20th century; consequently their name is also spelled ''Doğmuş'', using current Turkish orthography.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kaçıranlar Türk kökenli Doğmuş aşireti |url=https://www.hurriyet.com.tr/dunya/kaciranlar-turk-kokenli-dogmus-asireti-6834129 |access-date=2022-03-23 |website=www.hurriyet.com.tr |date=4 July 2007 |language=tr |archive-date=2023-04-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230419224843/https://www.hurriyet.com.tr/dunya/kaciranlar-turk-kokenli-dogmus-asireti-6834129 |url-status=live }}</ref> ''Doğmuş'' ({{IPA|tr|doːmuʃ}}) means "born" using the [[Inferential mood|inferential]] or [[Dubitative mood|dubitative]] past tense.
== Activities with Gaza's militant factions ==
Members of the clan are affiliated or aligned with various Palestinian and Islamist groups, including [[Fatah]], [[Hamas]], [[Popular Resistance Committees]], and [[Al-Qaeda]].<ref name="Clashes" />
The family has reportedly been involved in [[extortion]], [[smuggling]], [[arms trafficking|arms dealing]] and the killing of rivals. The clan has been dubbed "''[[The Sopranos]]'' of [[Gaza City]]".<ref name=":0" />
[[Mumtaz Dughmush|Mumtaz Doghmush]], who was involved in the [[kidnapping of Gilad Shalit]], led the [[Army of Islam (Gaza)|Army of Islam]] by 2008. After [[Hamas' takeover of Gaza]], the Doghmush clan was often involved in violent and deadly clashes with Hamas security forces. After the killing of a Hamas police officer, Hamas security forces raided a clan stronghold, leading to fighting between the clan and Hamas forces on 16 September 2008. Ten clan members, including Mumtaz's brother, were killed in the worst breakout of violence in Gaza since July 2008. Also killed was the infant daughter of Zakaria Doghmush, secretary general of the Hamas-affiliated [[Popular Resistance Committees]].<ref name="Clashes">{{cite news |last1=Waked |first1=Ali |title=12 dead as Hamas, clan battle in Gaza City |url=https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3597326,00.html |access-date=26 October 2023 |work=[[Ynet News]] |date=2008-09-16 |archive-date=2023-10-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231026180343/https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3597326,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
== Johnston kidnapping ==
Clan members affiliated with Al-Qaeda were involved in the [[kidnapping of Alan Johnston|kidnapping and holding of the British journalist Alan Johnston]] from March to July 2007.<ref name="Clashes" /> The clan members proclaimed themselves as the ''Jaysh al-Islām'' ([[Army of Islam (Gaza Strip)|Army of Islam]]), and being behind the kidnapping and holding of the British journalist [[Alan Johnston]] for four months in 2007.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article1945825.ece |title=The moment of greatest danger: After 97 days held captive in Gaza - Times Online |access-date=2007-10-22 |archive-date=2008-07-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080726122236/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article1945825.ece |url-status=dead }}</ref> They are linked to the British-based Palestinian-Jordanian extremist [[Abu Qatada al-Filistini|Abu Qatada]]. Mumtaz is suspected as the mastermind of Johnston's kidnapping.<ref name="SMH">{{cite news |title=Gaza blast kills leading militant |url=https://www.smh.com.au/world/gaza-blast-kills-leading-militant-20101104-17e9q.html |access-date=26 October 2023 |work=Sydney Morning Herald |agency=AFP |date=2010-11-04 |archive-date=2025-10-29 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20251029114020/https://www.smh.com.au/world/gaza-blast-kills-leading-militant-20101104-17e9q.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
== Gaza war == On 15 November 2023, 44 members of the clan were killed by an Israeli airstrike on a mosque in [[Sabra, Gaza]].<ref>{{cite web |title=The war in Gaza is wiping out entire Palestinian families, one branch at a time. This is how |url=https://apnews.com/article/gaza-palestinians-families-deaths-israeli-strikes-79f2cb7f3b04c512092f59f327443732# |website=AP News |date=17 June 2024 |access-date=17 June 2024}}</ref> Between 17 November and 17 December, Israeli forces committed two massacres against the family, carrying out a saturation bombing of the block the family was concentrated in within the Sabra Neighbourhood. The attack caused the death of 109 members of the clan, including the leader. [[Al Jazeera Mubasher]] published a list of dead family members it received from the ministry of health.<ref name="aljazeera20240317">{{Cite web |date=2024-03-17 |title=من القاتل الحقيقي لمختار عائلة دغمش في غزة؟ |url=https://www.aljazeera.net/news/2024/3/17/1210 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240330232035/https://www.aljazeera.net/news/2024/3/17/1210 |archive-date=2024-03-30 |access-date=2024-03-31 |website=Al Jazeera |language=ar}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title= Entire Families Were Crushed in Gaza by Israeli Airstrikes. Not Even Memories Remain|url= https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/palestinians/2024-12-05/ty-article-magazine/.premium/entire-families-crushed-in-gaza-by-israeli-airstrikes-not-even-memories-remain/00000193-92bf-dfe8-a5db-fbff98170000|website= Haaretz|date= 5 December 2024|access-date= 2025-05-01|archive-date= 2024-12-06|archive-url= https://archive.today/20241206080712/https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/palestinians/2024-12-05/ty-article-magazine/.premium/entire-families-crushed-in-gaza-by-israeli-airstrikes-not-even-memories-remain/00000193-92bf-dfe8-a5db-fbff98170000|url-status= live}}</ref>
On 22 November 2023, 3 members of the clan were killed by the [[Israel Defense Forces|IDF]] snipers in the "ghost unit."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Amann |first=Susanne |last2=Antoniadis |first2=Nikolai |last3=Christoph |first3=Maria |last4=Laufer |first4=Daniel |last5=Mulot |first5=Tobias |last6=Obermaier |first6=Frederik |last7=Osman |first7=Hoda |last8=Retter |first8=Maria |last9=Röhreke |first9=Friederike |date=2025-09-10 |title=Targeted Killings: Israeli soldier from Munich allegedly shot unarmed men in Gaza |url=https://www.spiegel.de/international/world/targeted-killings-israeli-soldier-from-munich-allegedly-shot-unarmed-men-in-gaza-a-28efbd28-a80c-46dc-a46d-7ab3eca4e1ec |access-date=2025-10-18 |work=Der Spiegel |language=en |issn=2195-1349 |archive-date=2025-09-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250918190039/https://www.spiegel.de/international/world/targeted-killings-israeli-soldier-from-munich-allegedly-shot-unarmed-men-in-gaza-a-28efbd28-a80c-46dc-a46d-7ab3eca4e1ec |url-status=live }}</ref> Israeli soldier Daniel Raab from [[Naperville, Illinois|Naperville]], Illinois, allegedly confessed to killing 19 year old Salem Doghmosh in a video released by journalist and activist [[Younis Tirawi|Younis Tirawis]]. An investigation by ''[[The Guardian]]'' newspaper confirmed the incident.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Osman |first1=Hoda |last2=Graham-Harrison |first2=Emma |date=2025-09-09 |title=The Gaza family torn apart by IDF snipers from Chicago and Munich |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/sep/09/the-gaza-family-torn-apart-by-idf-snipers-from-chicago-and-munich |access-date=2025-09-22 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=2025-09-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250909161037/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/sep/09/the-gaza-family-torn-apart-by-idf-snipers-from-chicago-and-munich |url-status=live }}</ref>
In March 2024, during the [[Gaza war]], the leader of the Doghmush clan, Saleh Doghmush, was killed.<ref name="aljazeera20240317" /> Israeli news outlets reported that Hamas had clashed with the family during the war and [[executions in the Gaza Strip|executed]] Doghmush, although the family denied this.<ref>{{Cite web |title=غزة الحدث الإخبارية {{!}} رداً على بيان |url=https://nabd.com/s/134327342-c2c991/%D8%B1%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%8B-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%85%D9%81%D8%A8%D8%B1%D9%83-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%AA%D9%87%D8%A7%D9%85-%D8%AD%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B3-%D8%A8%D9%82%D8%AA%D9%84-%D9%85%D8%AE%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%A6%D9%84%D8%A9-%D8%AF%D8%BA%D9%85%D8%B4..-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%AC%D9%84%D8%B3-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B1%D9%83%D8%B2%D9%8A-%D9%84%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%A6%D9%84%D8%A9-%D9%8A%D9%86%D8%B4%D8%B1-%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%8B-%D9%8A%D9%86%D9%81%D9%8A-%D9%81%D9%8A%D9%87-%D9%87%D8%B0%D8%A7-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AA%D9%87%D8%A7%D9%85 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240331185124/https://nabd.com/s/134327342-c2c991/%D8%B1%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%8B-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%85%D9%81%D8%A8%D8%B1%D9%83-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%AA%D9%87%D8%A7%D9%85-%D8%AD%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B3-%D8%A8%D9%82%D8%AA%D9%84-%D9%85%D8%AE%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%A6%D9%84%D8%A9-%D8%AF%D8%BA%D9%85%D8%B4..-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%AC%D9%84%D8%B3-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B1%D9%83%D8%B2%D9%8A-%D9%84%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%A6%D9%84%D8%A9-%D9%8A%D9%86%D8%B4%D8%B1-%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%8B-%D9%8A%D9%86%D9%81%D9%8A-%D9%81%D9%8A%D9%87-%D9%87%D8%B0%D8%A7-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AA%D9%87%D8%A7%D9%85 |archive-date=2024-03-31 |access-date=2024-03-31 |website=Nabd}}</ref>
==Alleged collaboration with Israel == Hamas has accused the Doghmush clan of collaborating and negotiating with Israel.<ref>{{cite web |last=Menzies |first=Venetia |date=14 October 2025 |title= Hamas ‘carries out public executions’ of rivals |url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/middle-east/article/hamas-public-executions-news-jrjppr95w |website=[[The Times]] |access-date=14 October 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Rahaman Sarkar |first=Alisha |date=13 October 2025 |title=Deadly clashes break out between armed groups in Gaza days after ceasefire with Israel |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/hamas-clash-gaza-dughmush-ceasefire-israel-hostages-b2844165.html |website=[[The Independent]] |access-date=14 October 2025}}</ref> In June 2025, [[Benjamin Netanyahu]] confirmed that Israel armed [[Criticism of Hamas|anti-Hamas]] clans and militias in Gaza, but the Doghmush clan was not specifically named.<ref>{{cite web |last=Usher |first=Sebastian |date=6 June 2025 |title=Netanyahu confirms Israel arming clans opposed to Hamas in Gaza |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwyn2m9yk0vo |website=[[BBC]] |access-date=14 October 2025 |archive-date=6 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250606000200/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwyn2m9yk0vo |url-status=live }}</ref>
After the [[2025 Hamas-Doghmush conflict|October 2025 clashes]], a senior source in Gaza's [[Interior Minister of the Gaza Strip|Ministry of Interior]] told [[Al Jazeera]] that the Doghmush militia had ties to Israel.<ref name=journalist>{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=12 October 2025 |title=Palestinian journalist Saleh Aljafarawi shot dead in Gaza City clashes |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/10/12/palestinian-journalist-saleh-aljafarawi-shot-dead-in-gaza-city-clashes |website=[[Al Jazeera]] |access-date=14 October 2025 |archive-date=13 October 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251013081140/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/10/12/palestinian-journalist-saleh-aljafarawi-shot-dead-in-gaza-city-clashes |url-status=live }}</ref> However, some other reports from Gaza dispute this connection.<ref name=salhani>{{cite web |last=Salhani |first=Justin |date=13 October 2025 |title=After Israel’s war halted, who is clashing with Hamas in Gaza? |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/10/13/after-israels-war-halted-who-is-clashing-with-hamas-in-gaza |website=[[Al Jazeera]] |access-date=14 October 2025}}</ref> Nizar Doghmush, head of the family in Gaza, acknowledged that Israel asked him to manage a "humanitarian zone," but he had refused.<ref name=salhani/><ref>{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=14 October 2025 |title=Understanding Gaza's internal clashes: Hamas, the Doghmush Clan, and other armed groups |url=https://www.tbsnews.net/explainer/understanding-gazas-internal-clashes-hamas-doghmush-clan-and-other-armed-groups-1260016 |website=[[The Business Standard]] |access-date=14 October 2025}}</ref>
== October 2025 conflict with Hamas == {{Main|2025 Hamas-Doghmush conflict}}
After the announcement of the 2025 October ceasefire, the clan killed two Hamas members in Gaza City, including the son of a military intelligence head. A day later, Hamas killed a clan member and arrested 30 others.<ref>{{Cite news |date=11 October 2025 |title=Gaza: Hamas mobilises fighters as fears of internal violence mount |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce8482418plo |first=Rushdi |last=Abualouf |access-date=12 October 2025 |website=BBC News |language=en-gb |archive-date=11 October 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251011223340/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce8482418plo |url-status=live }}</ref> A clan source accused Hamas of having started the conflict by evicting family members from a building where they had taken refuge.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cg5e551j593o|title=Clashes erupt between Hamas forces and armed clan members in Gaza City|date=12 October 2025|first=Rushdi|last=Abualouf|website=BBC News|access-date=13 October 2025|language=en-gb}}</ref> During the clashes, the Doghmush clan was also responsible for the killing of journalist [[Saleh al-Jafarawi]].<ref name=journalist/>
== See also == * [[Hilles clan]] * [[Salafi jihadist militant groups in the Gaza Strip]]
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{whole Gaza Strip}} {{Palestine topics}}
[[Category:Crime families]] [[Category:Crime in Palestine]] [[Category:Culture of the Gaza Strip]] [[Category:Palestinian families]] [[Category:Palestinian people of Turkish descent]] [[Category:Turkish families]]