Khaberni - An investigative press report reveals details of an undeclared Israeli plan aimed at reshaping the power balance in the Gaza Strip by supporting four local armed groups opposed to the Hamas movement.
In the first admission of its kind, the leaders of these groups confirmed that they are working within a joint project to oust Hamas from power with logistical support from Israel, marking a new phase post-ceasefire and suggesting a new strategy that could lead to a de facto division of the sector.
In light of the security and political vacuum in these areas, and the failure to reach an agreement on the "day after" Hamas' rule in Gaza, it seems that a new strategy has begun to form on the ground, based on empowering local forces as alternatives to Hamas, linked security-wise and economically with Israel, and having previous ties with the Palestinian Authority.
According to a report by the British channel "Sky News," four main militias operate from areas controlled by the Israeli army behind the "Yellow Line". In a straightforward acknowledgment, Hossam al-Astal, the leader of one of these groups, from his headquarters in southern Gaza, said: "We have an official project — me, Yasser Abu Shabab, Rami Hales, and Ashraf al-Mansi. We are all with the New Gaza. Soon, we will achieve full control over the Gaza Strip and gather under one umbrella."
Israeli Logistical Support:
Al-Astal confirmed that his group and other allied groups receive direct support from Israel. While weapons, especially Kalashnikov rifles, are acquired on the black market from former Hamas fighters, ammunition, vehicles, and vital supplies are introduced through the Kerem Shalom crossing "after coordination with the Israeli army." This support is not limited to military materials but includes weekly shipments of humanitarian and food aid to support civilians in the areas they control, helping these factions to build a popular support base.
The Ambiguous Role of the Palestinian Authority:
The report mentioned that coordination with the Israeli side is done indirectly through the Regional Coordination and Liaison Office, a body of the Israeli Ministry of Defense that includes officials from the Palestinian Authority.
Al-Astal confirmed: "There are people in my group who are still employed by the Palestinian Authority to this day." Despite the official denial of any connection with these groups by the Authority, Al-Astal clarifies that this denial is to avoid political embarrassment, saying, "If the news about their association with militias or occupation forces spread, imagine how it would look."
Military Coordination and Mutual Accusations:
Despite acknowledging logistical cooperation, Al-Astal denied any direct military coordination with the Israeli army. However, this denial contradicts accusations from Hamas, which confirmed the killing of several of its fighters after Israeli air intervention during a clash with Al-Astal's group on October 3. Al-Astal justified this by saying: "I do not control Israeli airstrikes. The Israelis simply saw the armed Hamas groups and hit them." Al-Astal adds a personal dimension to his fight, as his pregnant daughter was killed in an Israeli bombing that targeted his tent months ago, but he blames Hamas, "who hid among the people".
The "New Gaza" plan gains an international dimension, noticeably aligning with recent statements by Jared Kushner, son-in-law and advisor to former U.S. President Donald Trump. Just two days after these interviews, Kushner used the same term "New Gaza," suggesting dividing the sector along the "Yellow Line" and linking reconstruction funds to areas free from Hamas only.
These statements indicate that the strategy implemented on the ground may receive support and endorsement in influential American political circles, paving the way for a new political and geographic reality in the Gaza Strip, based on fragmented management and a long-term Palestinian-Palestinian conflict, under Israeli security supervision.
