An investigative report published on August 27 by the Israeli daily newspaper Haaretz reveals a developing network of armed Palestinian militias operating inside the Gaza Strip with the backing of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Shin Bet security agency. According to the investigation—which drew on satellite imagery, social media footage, United Nations documentation, and interviews with Israeli soldiers and Gaza residents—the relationship has evolved beyond basic intelligence sharing into operational coordination, with these groups acting in areas difficult for regular military forces to navigate.
From Field Coordination to Operational Execution
The reporting, led by journalist Yarden Michaeli and corroborated by regional monitoring from outlets such as the Palestinian Information Center, details how several armed groups have received direct military protection and logistical support. Rather than simply exchanging tips, certain militias now execute missions for the IDF and the Shin Bet, including tracking Hamas members, seizing equipment, and entering restricted or high-risk zones.
According to Haaretz, these armed factions maintain complexes near the official “yellow line” separating Israeli-controlled sectors from Palestinian areas. Satellite data shows that these bases have expanded rapidly. Near Shujaiya, for instance, a large cemetery was leveled to create a training ground, while other compounds feature concrete barriers similar to those used in IDF fortifications. In eastern Rafah, forces linked to figures such as Yasser Abu Shabab have established training courts, play areas, mosques, and grocery stores with engineering assistance.
Incidents and Internal Conflict
The arrangement has occasionally exposed friction within the region. The investigation highlights an incident in the Khan Younis area where IDF soldiers were dispatched under the guise of a coordinated operation with local militias, only to find themselves managing an internal dispute. A militia member had accidentally shot another operative’s wife, sparking a violent confrontation that ended with severe retaliatory gunfire.
At the same time, United Nations reports and witness accounts indicate that civilians have suffered amid clashes between these militias and Hamas fighters. An Israeli air force officer monitoring the groups via drone surveillance described witnessing armed units arrive in utility trucks, loot buildings, and burn structures.
Political Stakes and the Peace Process
The revelations arrive amid delicate diplomatic efforts surrounding post-war governance and disarmament frameworks. Sources close to Hamas told Haaretz that any movement toward demilitarizing their faction is impossible while Israel continues to arm and support rival militias in the enclave.
In late July, the Peace Council chaired by Donald Trump proposed a simultaneous disarmament plan involving Hamas, local militias, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces. While the Palestinian Authority accepted the framework, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the proposal in early August, insisting that Hamas must disarm entirely before any subsequent steps are discussed. Jared Kushner visited the region last week to hold separate talks with regional stakeholders, though no breakthrough has been announced.
Senior Israeli military officials interviewed by Haaretz acknowledged that the militia leaders—often drawn from former gangs, drug trafficking networks, or former Palestinian Authority security personnel such as Shawqi Abu Nasira—do not represent a viable long-term political alternative to Hamas. A senior IDF official noted that these groups lack the capacity to wrest control from Hamas independently, stating that without continuous military protection and backing from Israel, the militias would not survive.
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