Urgent questions are being raised over a patchwork of armed groups that have emerged to fight Hamas in Gaza over recent months. They include groups based around family clans, criminal gangs, and new militia — some of which are backed by Israel, as its prime minister recently admitted.
Elements within the Palestinian Authority — which governs parts of the occupied West Bank and is a political rival to Hamas — are also believed to be covertly sending support.
However, these militia, each operating in their local areas inside the 53% of Gaza's territory currently controlled by Israeli forces, have not been officially included in US President Donald Trump's peace plan, which calls for an International Stabilisation Force and a newly-trained Palestinian police force to secure Gaza in the next stage of the deal.
One of the largest militia is headed by Yasser Abu Shabab, whose Popular Forces operate near the southern city of Rafah. In a recent social media video, his deputy talks about working in coordination with the Board of Peace — the international body to be tasked with running Gaza under the plan.
Hossam al-Astal, who leads a militia called the Counter-Terrorism Strike Force near Khan Younis, hinted that dealings with US representatives might confirm the group's role in Gaza's future police force. However, a US official stated there was nothing to announce at this time.
Al-Astal's militia is small but increasingly confident, running a well-supplied tent city and reportedly coordinating with Israeli side for supplies despite concerns of being labeled agents of Israel.
The presence of these groups has not gone unnoticed among Gazans who are unhappy with the new power given to fragmented armed factions. Many residents fear that cooperation with Israeli forces tarnishes their integrity and question the overall direction these militias are bringing to the region.
Opponents also highlight the risks inherent in Israel's support for such groups; past instances suggest that fostering armed factions may lead to instability rather than peace.
Amid the debate surrounding their legitimacy and potential role under a future peace plan, these militia groups are poised to impact the future governance and security landscape of Gaza.
