Israel has reportedly backed four different militia groups to fight against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Sky News claimed to have confirmed on Saturday, citing the leader of the newest group.
Sharing footage of the newest of the four groups, Hossam al-Astal, the leader of one of the four groups, told Sky News that the four militias were part of a coordinated effort to remove Hamas from leadership.
Astal referred to the efforts as Project New Gaza, which he claimed militia leader Yasser Abu Shabab had also agreed to work on.
Abu Shabab told Army Radio in June that his militia had received no weapons from the IDF and denied receiving any backing from Israel, but insisted that his group was open to working with the Jewish state.
The 50-year-old, a former member of the Palestinian Authority’s security service, also claimed that Ashraf al-Mansi, leader of the People’s Army Northern Forces, had agreed to work on Project New Gaza.
“Soon we will achieve full control of the Gaza Strip,” he told Sky News. “We will gather under one umbrella.”
Receiving supplies from outside the Gaza Strip
Sky News reported that Astal’s gang's headquarters were situated on the Yellow Line, only 700 meters from the nearest IDF outpost. Astal claimed that a coordinator for the IDF had reached an agreement with him to create a Green Zone, where no shelling or gunfire would take place.
Reviewing footage of the militia in action, Sky News noted that a vehicle used by Astal’s militia had Hebrew writing on which appeared to have been scratched out.
“Our vehicles have been brought in from the outside,” Astal confirmed, while claiming they had purchased a number of Hamas weapons on the black market. He added that he had also received logistical support and ammunition from “outside” the Palestinian enclave.
He added that Western powers had also been lending indirect material support.
Beyond fighting against Hamas, the militia provides a humanitarian role in Gaza. Astal said they supported 30 families with medical care and education, receiving items in weekly shipments that are otherwise difficult to locate in the Gaza Strip.
“We go to bring supplies from Kerem Shalom,” he told the media site. “And we can protect ourselves when we go there. We organize coordination when we go there, of course, with the military.”
Israel-enabled smuggling
An anonymous senior fighter in the Abu Shabab militia also told Sky News that Israel had enabled the militia to smuggle in guns, cash and vehicles. The two other militias are alleged to have been allowed similar support.
“We are prepared to work with any authority that takes responsibility for the revival of Gaza,” he told The Media Line last week, while stressing his desire to avoid a civil war. “If Hamas hands over its weapons and asks us to surrender ours, we will comply. We welcome President Trump’s plan to end the war and thank him for his efforts.”
In another video reviewed by Sky News, a car belonging to Shabab’s militia was seen loaded with supplies heading from the direction of an IDF base near the Israeli border.
Officials from the al-Mansi militia denied having direct contact with the military, but said they had coordinated with the District Coordination Office, which is attached to both Israel’s military and the Palestinian Authority.
At least two of the militia leaders were reported to have had a career with the PA.