DaysofPal – The Wall Street Journal has revealed that Israeli authorities are quietly relying on newly formed Palestinian armed groups inside the Gaza Strip to confront Hamas, a strategy the newspaper says is intended to bypass restrictions placed on Israeli forces under the ceasefire agreement.
The report said that these militias carry out attacks inside areas that are officially outside of Israel’s authorized scope of operations, even though they operate in areas under Israeli military control. The groups reportedly receive direct support that includes intelligence sharing, drone-based aerial assistance, and various logistical supplies.
The cooperation became public after Hussam Al-Asatl, identified as the leader of one such militia, announced responsibility for killing a Gaza police official in the Al-Mawasi area. He warned that further attacks would follow and threatened additional Hamas members.
In a phone interview cited by the newspaper, Al-Asatl claimed the official who was killed “was causing problems for people who wanted to come to us.” He added that anyone attempting to replace him would face the same fate. Al-Asatl later appeared in a video message holding an assault rifle while issuing direct threats against Hamas and its supporters.
The militia led by Al-Asatl reportedly consists of dozens of armed men living in a section of Gaza under Israeli control.
Hamas responded by describing the group as “tools of the Israeli occupation,” warning that collaborators would be punished, and stating that “the price of betrayal is high and costly.”
Israeli Coordination Confirmed by Officials
Al-Asatl denied receiving military support from Israel, claiming assistance was limited to food supplies. Israeli officials and soldiers, however, told the Wall Street Journal that close coordination exists and that Israeli forces intervene directly to protect the group when necessary.
Yaron Buskila, a former senior operations officer in the Israeli army’s Gaza Division until the ceasefire took effect in October, said the military monitors these militias and provides support in certain situations. “We give them intelligence,” he said. “If Hamas tries to threaten them or move toward them, we act decisively.”
The newspaper assessed that this cooperation, rooted in shared hostility toward Hamas, offers Israel an operational tool following limits imposed by the ceasefire. Through these militias, access becomes possible to areas under Hamas control that Israeli forces are formally barred from entering, including Al-Mawasi.
The report notes that Israeli actions contradict claims of operational restraint. Since the ceasefire agreement was announced on 10 October 2025, Israeli forces have carried out multiple targeted killings. Data released by Gaza’s Ministry of Health show that 481 Palestinians have been killed and 1,313 injured since the agreement entered into force.
Militias Without Public Support or Legitimacy
The Wall Street Journal also reported that Israel previously relied on other armed groups, including factions known as “Popular Forces,” during complex operations. These efforts included attempts to lure Hamas fighters out of tunnels in Rafah and participation in killings documented in videos circulated online.
An Israeli reserve soldier quoted in the report said he escorted aid convoys delivered to one militia in Rafah during the summer. The shipments included food, water, cigarettes, and sealed boxes with unknown contents, placed inside vehicles by Israel’s internal security agency, Shin Bet.
The newspaper explained that this policy reflects Israel’s refusal to allow the Palestinian Authority to assume control of Gaza, following failed attempts to work with local clans.
Despite limited success in forming small armed clusters inside Israeli-controlled areas, the militias have not emerged as a viable alternative to Hamas. The report attributes this failure to strong social rejection, links to looting and criminal activity, and Hamas’s continued ability to reassert control.
Large segments of Gaza’s population view these groups as collaborators with Israel, a perception that severely restricts their ability to gain local legitimacy or political influence.
Shortlink for this post: https://daysofpalestine.ps/?p=71614
