Clan war? Prominent Gaza family members kill Hamas policeman who shot dead their relative; posts video

A famous Gazan family reportedly tracked down and killed a Hamas operative, who they claimed killed a member of their family. The incident involved the members of the Abu Samra clan from Deir al-Balah, a Palestinian city in the central Gaza Strip. 

 

The deaths happened on Tuesday at a flour distribution line. The Abu Samra clan said the Hamas member had shot dead their relative Abdulrahman Sha’aban Abu Samra while he waited in line for flour in Deir al-Balah. The Hamas police officer claimed that Abdulrahman refused an order to leave the distribution line.

 

The family members soon tracked down the Hamas police officer identified as Ibrahim Shaldan. They captured him and executed him at point-blank range in front of the public. 

 

The family also posted a video showing them detaining Shaldan before taking him to the entrance of Deir al-Balah where several relatives opened fire, according to The Times of Israel.

 

The video of the execution has gone viral on social media. It showed three different members of the clan shooting the Hamas officer from close range. Shaldan is seen holding a poster. The clan also made public Shaldan’s ID.

 

However, Israeli media quoting Gazan channels said armed clashes between local clans have broken out in Gaza and Shaldan's death was more of a blood feud between the clans rather than a revenge attack. 

 

Hamas’s Interior Ministry, which oversees the policing forces, stated that they were investigating the crime of the killing of a policeman. The statement said he was carrying out a mission to "break up a fight, which led to the death of a civilian from his injuries" in Deir Al-Balah.

 

The murder triggered an outrage in the state with some stating that this would encourage Hamas members to think a million times before shooting someone from their own people. 

Middle East