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Israel Arms Fatah-Linked Militias Combatting Hamas in Gaza

(Ynet News) Einav Halabi - Two additional armed groups affiliated with Fatah are now operating in Gaza with Israeli coordination and support, Ynet learned on Thursday. The Khalas clan, one of the largest in Gaza, is currently active in Shejaiya, a neighborhood in Gaza City. According to sources, Rami Khalas and his men are heavily armed and are now receiving Israeli protection and operational cover. A second militia is operating in Khan Yunis, led by Yasser Khanidak. Khanidak is receiving Israeli aid - both in weapons and humanitarian supplies. The emergence of Khalas and Khanidak as military actors illustrates the deepening rift between Fatah and Hamas, which has re-emerged in Gaza as Hamas's control begins to erode. For now, the forces led by Yasser Abu Shabab have struggled to scale up or establish any form of governance. Roughly 400 Gazans have joined his ranks so far but the militia remains largely confined to the buffer zone near Rafah. On Wednesday, Hamas's Interior Ministry issued an ultimatum for Abu Shabab to surrender to the military court, where he faces charges of treason and armed rebellion. In response, Abu Shabab's group told Ynet: "We believe every member of Hamas should face the same charges - for collaborating with Iran and the Muslim Brotherhood, which are hostile to our people and to our national interests."
2025-07-03 00:00:00
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