(AKI) - Eleven Palestinian were killed on Tuesday when forces loyal to the Islamist movement Hamas clashed with the Doghmush clan in the Gaza Strip.The clashes between the groups reportedly began on Monday after a member of the Doghmush family killed a Hamas policeman and wounded another officer when police tried to arrest him in Gaza. "The security campaign operated in the As-Sabra neighbourhood in Gaza City caused the death of three wanted persons from the Doghmush family in addition to a policeman and a number of injuries," said Islam Shahwan, spokesperson of the Hamas security forces in Gaza, quoted by the Palestinian news agency, Maan. The other nine people killed were all alleged members of the Doghmush clan, reported Maan.
According to Hamas, the clan is allegedly affiliated with the pro Al-Qaeda group, Army of Islam, and one of its members was among the ten killed in the gun battle. Army of Islam was allegedly responsible for the abduction of BBC reporter Alan Johnston in 2007 and Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in 2006. Shalit still remains in captivity.