Amid the present ceasefire, Gaza finds itself divided between territory that remains under Hamas’ control and territory occupied by Israeli forces where a number of anti-Hamas armed groups backed by Israel also operate.
The anti-Hamas factions are often dismissed as simply being opportunistic criminals or accused of being ‘ISIS-linked.’ I find the latter in particular to be unconvincing: at most, what the various allegations show so far (if assumed to be true) is that some members of these groups were previously members of Islamic State or Islamic State-linked, not that the groups themselves are presently affiliated with or linked to the Islamic State. In any event, their orientation and actions wholly contradict the Islamic State’s outlook, which rejects all notions of Palestinian nationalism or collaboration with Israel and insists on a worldwide religious war against Jews.
It seems credible to me that these anti-Hamas factions genuinely oppose the group’s rule over Gaza.
As for the former suggestion, it is often used to imply that the anti-Hamas groups somehow do not have any real political motivations. But there is no reason to think that (assumed for this purpose) criminal activity is somehow mutually exclusive from political motivation. As an analogy, consider the case of Hezbollah. It is credibly accused of involvement in criminal activity on an international scale, but that does not mean the group is somehow insincere in its belief that it upholds and represents Shia interests in Lebanon, or that it does not really oppose Israel’s existence.
In a similar vein, it seems credible to me that these anti-Hamas factions genuinely oppose the group’s rule over Gaza, believe that Hamas’ approach has brought disaster upon the Palestinians and the Palestinian cause, and genuinely think that a pragmatic approach towards Israel is the best way forward. It is at least worth talking to them to try to understand their motivations and reasoning.
Below is an interview I recently conducted with Hussam al-Astl, who commands one such anti-Hamas group that calls itself the ‘Counter-Terrorism Strike Force’. The interview was conducted on 28 December 2025 and is slightly edited and condensed for clarity.
Q: Could you tell us a little about yourself? When did you form your group and for what reasons did you form it and with which side are you affiliated currently?
A: Hello. Firstly, I am Hussam al-Astl. I used to be an officer employed by the Pales
tinian Authority [PA] and I stopped working with the PA ten years ago. We formed our group around six months ago. The reasons for which we formed this group: Hamas’ oppression and persecution against me personally, my family, and all the people of Gaza. We decided that we needed to defend ourselves, because we realised that no one would help the people of Gaza except the people of Gaza themselves. Therefore we formed our group. Initially we formed our group through personal effort and our personal responsibility. Later we established contact with friends in the Arab world, Europe and America, and they provided us help and support. God willing, our project will succeed and we will receive
The reasons for which we formed this group: Hamas’ oppression and persecution against me personally, my family, and all the people of Gaza.
Q: Do you have links for example with the Popular Forces led by Ghassan Duhine or the Popular Army led by Ashraf al-Mansi? In which areas are you present exactly?
A: We have contact with all the groups present: al-Mansi, Hillis and Duhine. We have met with each other a few times because our aim is one and our project is one. I am responsible for the region/province called Khan Yunis, Duhine is responsible for Rafah, Hillis is responsible for Shejaiya in central Gaza, Mansi is responsible for northern Gaza, and Shauqi Abu Nusayra is responsible for the central province.
Q: Some may say that the priority should be fighting Israel as they accuse Israel of committing genocide in Gaza. In your view, has Israel committed genocide? If yes, why should the priority be fighting Hamas?
A: Dear brother, I tell you that Israel did not carry out the bombing and attack on Gaza until after 7 October. For us personally, the 7 October attack was not a Palestinian decision. Hamas carried out foreign agendas. This is the reason for two years of destruction, not to mention that Hamas has gotten us involved in wars over 18 years: today these are the two most recent years of war. The important point is they have brought a complete end to Gaza: the killing of people, around 100,000 martyrs (leaving aside the wounded) and Gaza has been completely destroyed. And in the end what is Hamas demanding? What is Hamas negotiating for? Hamas is negotiating for its survival and nothing else, and to continue ruling Gaza. Why is Hamas still ruling Gaza after all this destruction? Why did it get us involved in a war we could not bear?
Today Israel is among the states with the strongest military forces, so we as the Palestinian people do not have the strategic capabilities or air capabilities or aircraft. In the past we would fight within a narrower confine and thus achieve aims. But for you to fight today in this way, you have to anticipate a military counter-attack and expect a military response greater than this. Hamas is the main reason for the killing and destruction after 7 October. Hamas is the one in control as an organisation and we are living in Gaza and Hamas has oppressed the Palestinian people. I will tell you something else too: after the recent ceasefire was enacted, the first thing Hamas began doing was killing innocents and their families in front of their children. This is wrong. Today, what is Hamas doing on social media and in the news? It is showing the killing of people on the pretext of collaboration. Are all the Palestinian people today collaborators?
Our groups host hundreds of families, and of course you have seen the photos on social media. We host hundreds of families and thousands of people. You cannot today charge thousands of people with betrayal on the grounds of cooperating with Israel. The people who have come to us in refuge and join our company have faced continual suffering and have gotten tired of the war atmosphere and want to preserve their children. Today there is no life in Gaza, no food, no drinking water, no homes, nothing. We have to say to Hamas: enough! Our project is to build a new Gaza, a Gaza of peace. We must have peace. Let people live. Just think: today a 15-year old child in Gaza does not know how to write his own name. In previous years, the most advanced and greatest rate of education was in the Gaza Strip. Today, the Gaza Strip, after these last five years, we have no education. We have become an ignorant people. If you want to fight: do ignorant people liberate homelands? Of course not.
You cannot today charge thousands of people with betrayal on the grounds of cooperating with Israel.
So on this basis, we decided to fight Hamas in order to get rid of it from the political and military scene, so we can protect the people and citizens. Israel has committed crimes and bombs tents because of the presence of Hamas members and mercenaries among the tents and so Israel bombs the tents. If you are a military person, you have to go and fight on the frontlines. Why do you fight within tents and among civilians and use them as human shields? Hamas has attacked some of the families. If you noticed yesterday, Hamas attacked the Najjar family and arrested and killed people among them, and likewise the Dughmash and Majaydar families, and everyday it kills people. Why? And I will tell you something: Hamas attacks tents and people, and makes businessmen pay extortion fees. Amid war, you should remove these things and taxes from the people. If it were a legitimate government it would not treat the people in this way, making people pay extortion fees, opening fire on them, killing them and their families in front of their children. It has become a mercenary militia. We hold Hamas entirely responsible for every person killed in Gaza. And I am responsible for my words.
Q: Until now what are your group’s most important accomplishments in fighting Hamas and helping Gaza’s people?
A: Our most important accomplishments: we have humanitarian towns where we have received hundreds of families, and we offer all humanitarian support including food goods, drinks, shelter and clothing. We offer all this to people persecuted by Hamas. Thousands of families are coming to us because of the oppression they have faced at Hamas’ hands. Our mission and accomplishment today: protect the people and provide them refuge, and what we have established will be a new Gaza- God willing- that will grow and include all of Gaza, after Hamas comes to an end even as it refuses to disarm. Today Hamas does not fight Israel, its arms are only directed at the Palestinian people. During the recent months, if you have noticed, Hamas has not been fighting Israel. You only hear of Hamas opening fire on people’s heads, the heads of businessmen and the heads of those it accuses of collaboration. Anyone who goes to secure food and goods for his family becomes a collaborator who is to be killed. What religion is this? Hamas has today become a mercenary militia and nothing more.
Q: In the long-term, do you want the PA to return to Gaza and a two state solution?
Today Hamas does not fight Israel, its arms are only directed at the Palestinian people.
A: Dear brother, we aspire to the establishment of a Palestinian state but with peace. We and Israel share one geography and one currency. Before we can think of establishing a state, you have to have a human being, but today there is no human being, so how can we build a state without a human being? Look at the accomplishments the PA has offered over 18 years for the Palestinian people, but they are all in the West Bank, whereas it has left the people of Gaza under the tyrannical rule of Hamas. We don’t have a problem with the PA or any Palestinian who strives to achieve security and justice for the people: our mission is to provide security for the Palestinian people after the destruction that has arisen in Gaza. Today there is nothing in Gaza. Anyone who helps and participates in rebuilding the new Gaza and building the human being before the stone is good in our view. We have no problem with the PA or others. But before we can build a state, who can build a state on ruins or tents? There is no such state you can speak of. We want a state, but one based on foundations and true accomplishments, on the real basis of peace, citizenship, not one like Somalia where the people are displaced and hungry. In the previous years, the people of Gaza were struggling but at least they had buildings, homes and safe places. Today if you look at the circumstances of winter and rain and the tents, all the tents have become worn out. Hamas is even stealing tents, is stealing aid, is hoarding aid, and is killing people. Before we can think of building a state, we have to build the human being.
Q: Of course Israel insists on recognition of its identity as a ‘Jewish state’. Do you accept this recognition?
A: We can’t deny the existence of the Israeli state. The Israeli state is present as an entity with international recognition. The Israelis and Jews are present among us, and we as Palestinians are present on the ground. When there was the peace agreement and the existence of the PA, if you remember, we were living and they were living in peace. But when Hamas came and failed and brought the people of Gaza into wars, this is what we reject. We want peace. We aspire for peace for ourselves and the coming generation. The next generation in Gaza must live in peace. There is no benefit in having another ten or twenty years of war.
Q: Gaza is currently partitioned more or less because of the ceasefire. How can Hamas be overthrown in the areas of Gaza it still controls?
A: This partition is connected with Hamas’ decision in the end: because Hamas rejects disarmament and is negotiating to survive, but today, as you know, none of the Arab or European states want Hamas because of its violent and irresponsible policies. We are aspiring for international recognition, and God willing, at the appropriate time, there will soon enough be no more Hamas.
Published originally on January 6, 2026.
