Hamas 'psychological war' is trying to drive Gazans away, Khan Yunis militia leader tells 'Post'

Hussam al-Astal, head of an anti-Hamas militia in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza, alleges that Hamas is engaged in psychological warfare to undermine the influence of armed groups operating in the strip. He rejected Hamas's recent claims that members of these Israeli-backed militias are seeking to defect and rejoin Hamas. Al-Astal asserts that Hamas's statements are false and designed to pressure Gazans against reaching out to his organization.

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What Hamas says is not true. Dozens, even hundreds, of people in Gaza are trying to move to our area.

"What Hamas says is not true," al-Astal stated in an interview with The Jerusalem Post. "Dozens, even hundreds, of people in Gaza are trying to move to our area." He believes Hamas is afraid of this potential shift in support and is using disinformation to prevent it. Hamas's Radea force, a special security unit, announced it had received numerous appeals within 12 hours from individuals described as "members of collaborator gangs" asking to "resolve their security files and return to their people."

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Hamas is afraid and wants to prevent that, so that’s why they spread these things

Al-Astal countered that Hamas views his group as a threat to its rule and is inciting against them to drive people away. "Hamas sees us as a threat to their rule. They don’t want us to get stronger; that's why they incite against us and try to drive people away," he said. He emphasized that his group is a significant force, not a hidden group of collaborators, and has grown from just four people a year ago to several hundred members and affiliates.

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The Radea force affirms that the growing number of requests reflects the extent of confusion and collapse within these gangs following the disclosure of their criminal activities and complete subordination to the occupation.

However, a Palestinian source told The Jerusalem Post that a small number of families have approached Hamas, reporting that their sons regret joining the militias due to the difficult economic situation and wish to turn themselves in. This source estimated such cases to be "maybe ten out of hundreds." Hamas may question these individuals for information about the militias before potentially releasing them, hoping to encourage further defections.

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Hamas sees us as a threat to their rule. They don’t want us to get stronger; that's why they incite against us and try to drive people away.