CAIRO (Reuters) -A greatly weakened Hamas has sought to reassert itself in Gaza since a ceasefire took hold, killing dozens of people in a crackdown on groups that have tested its grip and appearing to get a U.

Hamas is reasserting control of parts of Gaza not occupied by Israeli forces as the ceasefire takes hold – amid continuing uncertainty about security in the territory if the group is disarmed.

A t least 27 people have been killed in fierce clashes between Hamas security forces and armed members of the Dughmush family in Gaza City, in one of the most violent internal confrontations since the end of major Israeli operations in the enclave.

The vague promise of a “pathway” to Palestinian independence is reminiscent of past negotiations, when invoking the promise of an eventual Palestinian state had become a smokescreen to camouflage what was already a cruel, unjust, and explosive reality; it predictably led to the immense violence witnessed over the past two years.

Astal has reportedly been able to “liberate an area from Hamas occupation,” managing to establish a “safe city” of almost one square mile in Khan Yunis. Hossam al-Astal, leader of one of the anti-Hamas militias in Gaza,

Hamas on Monday released the names of four deceased hostages that the terror group will return to Israel later that evening. Hamas named the hostages as Guy Illouz, Yossi Sharabi, Pibin Joshi, and Daniel Peretz.