Hamas offers amnesty to armed groups in bid to reestablish control of Gaza

Hamas has offered amnesty to armed groups in Gaza as it tries to restore order following gun battles with militias, leading to dozens of people killed.

Violent clashes between Hamas security forces and militants linked to the powerful Doghmush family erupted following Israel's withdrawal from Gaza City over the weekend.

Eight Hamas fighters and 19 members of the clan were reportedly killed in the fighting, which took place near the Jordanian Hospital in the Sabra suburb of the city. Local media reported that Hamas arrested dozens of Doghmush family members.

In a statement, Gaza's interior ministry gave members of "criminal gangs" and armed groups until 19 October to hand themselves in.

Authorities will "take strict measures" against those who do not surrender, it said, describing the announcement as a "final warning".

Hamas has vowed to crack down on militias it accuses of having collaborated with the Israeli military. This includes the Popular Forces, an Israel-backed group led by the alleged former drug trafficker Yasser Abu Shabab.

In a statement on Monday, the Doghmush family condemned the violence and denied working with the Israelis.

"The family is not responsible for these incidents in any way, shape or form. These are individual acts that have no connection to the family and serve the occupation and its agendas," it wrote on social media.

More than 600 members of the family were killed and hundreds of others wounded in Israel's two-year assault on Gaza, it said.

Palestinian journalist and social media influencer Saleh al-Jafawari was among those killed in Sabra, as was Mohammed Imad Aql, the son of a senior Hamas commander.

Hamas has been trying to re-establish control of Gaza in the days since the Israeli military pulled back its forces following last week's ceasefire agreement.

Security forces have reportedly been deployed in areas not occupied by Israeli troops, with videos circulating of armed police patrolling the streets and markets of Gaza City.

Hamas has pledged to step down from power in Gaza in favour of an independent administration as part of US President Donald Trump's so-called peace plan.

However, it has refused to surrender its weapons while the transfer of power to the new authority is yet to be negotiated.

Israel accuses Hamas of delaying captive release

Israel has reportedly issued an ultimatum to Hamas to return the remaining bodies of the deceased captives.

Hamas on Monday returned the bodies of four of the hostages, along with the 20 who remained alive.

Israeli officials have previously acknowledged that Hamas may have difficulty locating the remains of all the captives.

However, the Israeli government has now accused the group of refusing to return the rest of the bodies and demanded progress by the end of the day on Tuesday, according to Israeli public broadcaster Kan.

"The writing was on the wall, but only now are we discussing in any significant way the options for response," a source was quoted as saying.

Mediators are working on the issue and do not believe the ceasefire is under threat, one Arab diplomat told Haaretz.

Trump said on Monday that Hamas is working with Israel to find the rest of the bodies.

"They're looking for bodies. It's a pretty gruesome task. They know where numerous are. I guess five or six are in, but they are looking. They know the areas, and search parties are out, in conjunction with Israel. They will be finding quite a few of them," he during his speech at the Knesset.

'Difficult' next steps

Qatar's foreign ministry warned on Tuesday that negotiations to settle the most contentious aspects of a long-term peace between Hamas and Israel will be "very difficult".

The 'first phase' of the truce agreed last week involved an immediate ceasefire, a captive exchange, a partial withdrawal of Israeli troops and the lifting of Israel's aid blockade.

The most difficult issues to negotiate, including Hamas's disarmament, its stepping down from power, and the establishment of a new administration, were left to future talks.

"The next steps are going to be very difficult," Qatari spokesman Majid al-Ansari said in an interview with Fox News.

"We have delayed many talks on the second phase, to make sure that the first phase is implemented, the hostages are returned, and we get this moment. Now the difficult discussions are starting," he said.

"The talks have already started in Sharm el-Sheikh, and all our teams are working around the clock to make sure that there is no time gap between the first and second phases."