Israeli authorities have reportedly equipped local militias in Gaza to combat Hamas within the territory, according to official sources cited by CNN. According to The Wall Street Journal, Israel provides these groups with aerial support from drones, intelligence, weapons, cigarettes, and food, with some members evacuated to Israeli hospitals for treatment.
As reported in The Guardian, a Palestinian militia supportive of Israel has conducted raids, covert assassinations, and abductions in Hamas-controlled areas of Gaza, operating primarily from eastern Gaza under Israeli oversight. These operations have escalated despite regional tensions, with factions like Popular Forces in Rafah and Strike Force Terror east of Khan Younis launching incursions into Hamas territory.
What Are the Reactions?
Nasser Khdour of the conflict monitoring group Acled noted that the militias are enlisting and becoming more active against Hamas, particularly in Rafah, gaining greater capabilities and experience, as reported by The Guardian. Hamas has mounted counteroffensives, targeting militia borders and positions, contributing to rising violence in the area.
Hamas operatives ambushed an Israeli-backed militia in Khan Younis, killing one fighter and wounding two others while the group distributed food, according to reports from VERTEX, highlighting growing tensions between rival factions.
Supporting Details
The Popular Forces were deployed at the Rafah crossing after its partial reopening, amid UN concerns over mistreatment by forces allegedly supported by the Israeli military, per The Guardian. In February, Hamas claimed to have killed 11 Strike Force members during an incursion in Khan Younis, though the militia denied losses and reported six Hamas deaths, without independent verification.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended arming clans opposed to Hamas as a “positive development” following security expert recommendations, as stated in a social media video covered by CNN.
What Happens Next?
Hamas governs most of Gaza’s coastal strip, showing reluctance to disarm fully, while Israel maintains control over more than half the territory, per analysts cited in The Guardian. The militias continue operations against Hamas tunnel networks near Rafah, with pursuits often halted by Israeli drones when entering controlled zones.
Opposition politicians in Israel warned that arming these groups poses a national security threat, amid ongoing negotiations over Gaza governance ahead of military deadlines.
Ongoing clashes between Hamas and Israeli-backed militias underscore internal power struggles in Gaza, with both sides reporting casualties in disputed encounters. Israel continues logistical support to these groups amid persistent territorial divisions and violence.
