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The Doghmush family () is a Palestinian clan from the Gaza Strip known for its long-running rivalry with Hamas. Hamas seeks revenge on rivals in Gaza
The family has reportedly been involved in extortion, smuggling, arms trafficking and the killing of rivals. The clan has been dubbed " The Sopranos of Gaza City".
Mumtaz Dughmush, who was involved in the kidnapping of Gilad Shalit, led the 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.
On 22 November 2023, 3 members of the clan were killed by the IDF snipers in the "ghost unit." Israeli soldier Daniel Raab from Naperville, Illinois, allegedly confessed to killing 19 year old Salem Doghmosh in a video released by journalist and activist Younis Tirawi. An investigation by The Guardian newspaper confirmed the incident.
In March 2024, during the Gaza war, the leader of the Doghmush clan, Saleh Doghmush, was killed. Israeli news outlets reported that Hamas had clashed with the family during the war and executed Doghmush, although the family denied this.
After the October 2025 clashes, a senior source in Gaza's Ministry of Interior told Al Jazeera that the Doghmush militia had ties to Israel. However, some other reports from Gaza dispute this connection. Nizar Doghmush, head of the family in Gaza, acknowledged that Israel asked him to manage a "humanitarian zone," but he had refused.
October 2025 conflict with Hamas
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. A clan source accused Hamas of having started the conflict by evicting family members from a building where they had taken refuge. During the clashes, the Doghmush clan was also responsible for the killing of journalist Saleh al-Jafarawi.
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