Hamas urges Palestinians to target leading figures in the Israeli-backed armed groups in the Gaza Strip.
The terror organization’s special security unit, Rada Force, which is responsible for addressing internal threats – specifically suspected collaborators with Israel – stated that the solution to dismantling what it described as “collaborator gangs” is to eliminate their top members.
“We say to all members of the collaborator gangs that assassinating senior collaborators in these groups will be your salvation before us and before your people,” the Rada Force said in a statement.
As part of Hamas’s attempts to crack down on armed militias in the strip, the force stated on Thursday that “with the assistance of residents, it apprehended a Palestinian closely linked to senior militia collaborators,” and added that his weapons and money were confiscated.
It expressed appreciation for what it called the public’s sense of national and ethical responsibility, urging Gaza residents to immediately report any suspicious behavior or the whereabouts of “wanted collaborators.”
Hamas agrees to hand over heavy weapons as part of phase two of peace agreement, sees militas as a threat
The call to assassinate figures in the armed militias follows the announcement of a roadmap for advancing to the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire.
According to the deal, Hamas claims it agreed to hand over its heavy weapons to the Palestinian technocratic committee, the transitional governing body, which is expected to administer the Gaza Strip under the Board of Peace’s plan for post-war Gaza.
Although the deal includes the terror organization’s demand to dissolve the anti-Hamas armed militias and stipulates that their members will not be integrated into the security and police services under the new arrangements for Gaza, sources in Gaza said that Hamas remains concerned about their continued presence.
“Despite the militias not having public popularity, Hamas still sees them as a threat to its rule,” one Palestinian source told The Jerusalem Post. “Hamas is trying to prevent them from becoming stronger.”
Another Palestinian from Gaza said that “it shows that Hamas is worried” and is seeking ways to isolate militia leaders and strip them of public support.
“Hamas wants to make them look bad in the eyes of the people,” he said. “They use manipulation, now telling members of these armed groups, ‘come to us, we’ll embrace you and take care of you,’” he added.
Gaza force officials offer pardons to pro-Israel militamen to press forward with peace plan
The Rada Force claimed in the statement that it offers a pardon to pro-Israel militiamen who repent, making it possible for them to leave these groups and return to Gaza society.
“We consider the current circumstances a golden opportunity to end the phenomenon of the collaborator gangs, which have represented a black mark in the history of our people’s struggle,” the statement read.
“Despite the security situation, we continue to attach great importance to bringing back those who have been misled and rescuing them from the mire of betrayal,” it stated.
The force claimed it is handling requests from families to resolve the cases of their sons who have joined the “collaborator gangs,” especially those who express regret and wish to return to “the right path.”
Three days ago, a source in the Rada Force stated that Hamas has addressed the cases of 17 individuals linked to collaborator militias.
“We reaffirm that the idea of these militias was dead from the outset,” the Rada source said. “The occupation will not protect them, and the coming days will prove it. We renew our call to all gang members to come back to the embrace of their people before it is too late.”
These escalatory statements come at a time of heightened hostility between the two sides.
In response to Hamas’s apparent agreement to store its weapons, a key militia figure in Gaza told the Post over the past weekend that he “does not believe Hamas will disarm” and said that “the deal will not happen.”
Since armed groups supported by Israel were established in the Gaza Strip to combat Hamas following the October 7 massacre that triggered the war in Gaza, Hamas has constantly sought to delegitimize these militias, with frequent clashes taking place.
