GAZA CITY — Israeli-backed Palestinian militias have significantly escalated operations against Hamas in recent weeks, conducting deeper raids into Hamas-controlled territory with increased firepower and coordination, according to regional analysts and conflict monitors. The surge in militia activity comes amid broader regional tensions following Israel’s military actions against Iran, highlighting the complex security landscape in the war-torn Gaza Strip.
The most prominent among these groups are the Popular Forces, operating from the ruins of Rafah in southern Gaza, and the Strike Force Against Terror, based east of Khan Younis. Both militias have launched multiple operations into Hamas-held areas in what appears to be a coordinated campaign. “The militia are recruiting and becoming more active against Hamas, especially in Rafah,” said Nasser Khdour of the independent conflict monitor ACLED. “They seem to be getting more leverage. The Popular Forces, particularly now, have more capabilities and are more experienced.”
Israeli airstrikes in Gaza have continued alongside these militia operations, with health officials reporting at least 16 Palestinian fatalities since late February. On Sunday, six Palestinians including two women and a girl were killed in separate attacks in Gaza City—the deadliest incidents since the broader regional conflict escalated. Israel has provided significant logistical support to these militias since last year, but analysts note a marked increase in their operational capabilities in recent weeks.
A third group, the Ashraf al-Mansi militia based in northern Gaza, attempted to cross into Hamas-controlled territory last week on what sources describe as an ambush mission targeting Hamas patrols and possibly senior figures. Hamas officials claim they foiled the attempt during fighting in Gaza City’s Nasser neighborhood. Two weeks earlier, the same militia clashed with Hamas fighters in Jabaliya on Gaza City’s eastern outskirts.
Israel has deployed militia members for security duties within the zones it controls, including positioning armed Popular Forces fighters at the Rafah Crossing to Egypt after its partial reopening last month. This arrangement has drawn criticism from international observers. The UN human rights office recently warned of “a pattern of ill-treatment, abuse and humiliation of returnees by Israeli forces and armed Palestinians allegedly backed by the Israeli military.”
The militia escalation presents additional challenges for international stabilization efforts in Gaza. The US-brokered ceasefire that entered its second phase in January aimed to demilitarize the territory, but progress had stalled even before recent regional hostilities. Hamas controls most of the coastal strip where Gaza’s 2.3 million residents live, and the group has launched counteroffensives targeting militia positions. “Hamas is trying to focus on borders and positions where the militias are based,” Khdour noted. “That is one reason why the violence has gone up.”
Regional experts suggest the militia operations represent a strategic shift in Israel’s approach to Gaza security, potentially complicating future political solutions. The situation remains fluid as broader Middle East tensions continue to influence local dynamics, with the Gaza Strip serving as both battleground and strategic concern in the region’s complex conflict landscape.
Source: The Guardian