Who are Hamas’s adversaries in Gaza?

Hamas's internal security and counter-intelligence apparatus in Gaza, known as the Radaa Force, has issued a stark appeal to the public and members of rival militia groups. The unit urged the assassination of leaders within anti-Hamas factions, framing it as a path to salvation "before us, and before your people."

The primary target of this call appears to be the "Popular Forces," an armed network operating in Gaza, particularly around Rafah. Formerly led by Yasser Abu Shabab until his death in late 2025, the group is now headed by his deputy, Ghassan Duhine. It is described as the only significant anti-Hamas force with battalion-scale strength, estimated at up to 700 fighters.

Subsequent reporting has identified the Popular Forces as one of the groups that Israel has "activated" and supported, according to a statement by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This reported assistance includes weapons, intelligence, logistical support, access to Israeli-controlled areas, and protection from Hamas. The group has been linked to attacks on Hamas facilities and plays a role in intelligence gathering against Hamas, securing aid convoys, and protecting aid distribution routes.

Unlike more ideologically driven Palestinian factions, the Popular Forces do not prioritize Palestinian nationalism or state-building. Abu Shabab had publicly condemned the October 7, 2023, attacks, arguing Hamas brought catastrophe upon Gaza. The group's motivations are described as a complex mix of hostility towards Hamas, a desire for tribal autonomy, economic interests, personal power, and dependence on Israeli patronage. Their central political proposition is the removal of Hamas, with a focus on local Palestinian actors assuming control.

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We say to all members of the collaborator gangs,” ran the Radaa Force statement, “that assassinating senior collaborators in these groups will be your salvation – before us, and before your people.