In his peace plan for the Gaza Strip, the first phase of which is underway, American President Donald Trump proposed that a Palestinian administration of “technocrats”, supervised by an international transitional body, manage the territory until the Palestinian Authority (which governs parts of the West Bank) “completes its reform program” and “can safely and effectively regain control of Gaza”.
The terrorist group Hamas, which currently administers the enclave, agreed to release the Israeli hostages who remained in Gaza (the first phase of the plan, together with the ceasefire with Israel that is in force) and, subsequently, cede management of the territory to the Palestinian administration of “technocrats”, as long as there is “Palestinian national consensus and Arab and Islamic support”.
However, since the ceasefire began last week, the terrorist group has been trying to reassert its power in Gaza and is facing local clans that challenge it. Several people died in these clashes and Hamas executed blindfolded men in a public square, according to images posted on social media in recent days.
With the terrorist group weakened by two years of war, these clans could take control of Gaza before the interim administration outlined by Trump takes over administration of the Palestinian enclave. Check out information about some of these groups:
Popular Forces
Of the clans challenging Hamas, the best known is the Popular Forces, led by Yasser Abu Shabab, which operates in the Rafah region (on the border between Gaza and Egypt) and has around 400 men under its command.
Shabab is accused by Hamas of collaborating with Israel, which it denies, although in June Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu admitted that his government was supplying weapons to some Gaza clans.
An Israeli government official told the Associated Press that the Popular Forces were among the groups helped.
In May, Shabab posted images on social media of its armed men receiving and organizing the logistics of humanitarian aid trucks.
Shabab was also accused by Hamas of having looted trucks, but argued that he is a “local leader who has taken a stand against corruption and looting” of humanitarian aid loads by the terrorist group.
Doghmosh Clan
According to information from the Reuters agency, Mumtaz Doghmosh already led the armed wing of the Popular Resistance Committees in Gaza City and formed the Army of Islam, an ally of the Islamic State.
This faction was allied with Hamas, with whom it participated in an attack in 2006 in which Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit was kidnapped in Kerem Shalom, on Israel’s border with the Gaza Strip – the soldier was released in an exchange for Palestinian prisoners in 2011.
However, Hamas has clashed with the Doghmosh clan in the past over its refusal to disarm and the kidnapping of a British reporter by the Army of Islam. Since last weekend, members of the clan have clashed with the terrorist group.
Clã Al-Majayda
The Al-Majayda clan operates in the region of Khan Younis, a city in the south of the Gaza Strip. Members of Hamas invaded the region dominated by the group earlier this month, looking for suspects of having killed members of the terrorist group, an operation that resulted in several deaths on both sides.
Despite this, Al-Majayda leaders released a statement on social media on Monday (13) affirming support for the “security campaign” launched by Hamas to maintain “law and order” in Gaza and asked for cooperation from members of the clan.
Other clans
Other less prominent groups operate in Gaza and are a threat to Hamas, such as the Rami Hellis clan, which operates in the Shejaia neighborhood of Gaza City, and, according to a report by The Guardian, more than ten new militias have been formed in the enclave recently.
Hossam al-Astal, leader of one of these newly formed groups who operates in the Khan Younis area, told the British newspaper that “Hamas always bet that there would be no alternative to replace it in Gaza, but now there is an alternative force to Hamas.”
“It could be me, Abu Shabab or anyone else, but alternatives exist today. I’m sorry, but I will work with the devil himself if it helps me protect my city. [O Hamas] needs to leave Gaza,” said Astal.
