Emerging Militia in Gaza Aiming for Stability Post-Hamas

Sat Nov 22 2025 07:04:42 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In the evolving landscape of Gaza, several local militia groups are positioning themselves as potential stabilizers under new peace arrangements, diverging from Hamas's governance but facing skepticism from the Palestinian Authority and local residents.

As multiple armed militia arise in Gaza in opposition to Hamas, questions surrounding their future role in potential peace negotiations are paramount. Leaders of these groups seek integration into new governance models, while opinions vary among local residents and Palestinian officials regarding their legitimacy and effectiveness in the post-Hamas era.

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.

But these militia - each operating in its own local area inside the 53% of Gaza's territory currently controlled by Israeli forces - have not been officially included in the 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 one 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 the southern city of Khan Younis, claimed this week that US representatives had confirmed his group would have a role in Gaza's future police force. However, a US official stated they had no announcements at this time.

Astal, who has previously worked for the Palestinian Authority, noted his group is relatively small but is gaining confidence and is running a well-supplied tent city near Khan Younis.

Despite their aspirations for inclusion in future governance, many Gazans remain critical of the new power allocated to these smaller armed groups. Many express concerns that such militias, which allegedly coordinate with Israeli forces, present potential risks to civilian safety.

The complex landscape of these new armed factions presents a challenge to both the prospects of Palestinian unity and the broader security dynamics in Gaza. Concerns persist that arming various local groups may hinder any peace efforts aimed at disarming Hamas and establishing a secure environment under international oversight.