Anti-Hamas militias come out against Turkish, Qatari involvement in postwar Gaza

Leaders of anti-Hamas militias operating in areas under Israeli control in the Gaza Strip have said they oppose any involvement of Qatari or Turkish forces in postwar Gaza, according to a Saturday report.

Hussam al-Astal, the leader of a militia in the Khan Younis area, charged that Turkey “supports Hamas and protects Hamas,” and said he considers both Turkey and Qatar to be “war criminals,” Channel 12 reported.

He added, however, that “anyone who helps us against Hamas will be welcomed.”

US-led discussions continue over the makeup of a planned International Stabilization Force meant, under the terms of the recent ceasefire, to oversee security in the territory after an IDF withdrawal.

Turkey has openly expressed an interest in being part of the stabilization force, while US President Donald Trump has said that Qatar could also be involved.

“Hamas brought destruction upon Israel and upon the Gaza Strip,” al-Astal told Channel 12. “During the war, when a gunman hid among the tents, Israel would kill him, and then people would say that Israel murdered children.

“The one responsible for the deaths of women and children in Gaza is Hamas, not Israel,” he asserted.

Rasan al-Dahini, a senior figure in Yasser Abu Shabab’s militia in Rafah, similarly charged that “Turkey is not working for peace; they openly and explicitly support Hamas.”

Under the terms of the ceasefire, some areas where anti-Hamas armed clans operate have remained under Israeli control as the IDF pulled back from regions it took over during the war.

Responding to claims that the anti-Hamas militias would be forced to flee to Israel for safety once the IDF had fully withdrawn from Gaza, as members of the South Lebanon Army did in 2000 after the IDF left Lebanon, al-Dahini said he is from Rafah and will not leave his home under any circumstances.

He also said that the weapons obtained by Abu Shabab’s clan will not be turned against Israel in the future.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged in June that Israel had armed Palestinian gangs opposed to Hamas, without directly naming any.

Qatar is among the key countries backing the fragile deal, along with Egypt, the United States, and Turkey. The Qatari emir hosted Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan last week to discuss the highly sensitive next steps in the deal, including the establishment of the peacekeeping force in Gaza and the fate of Hamas.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has told Trump that Ankara was also prepared to send forces to Gaza.

Israel is strongly opposed to the close involvement of NATO-member Turkey and its leader, who has compared Israel throughout the war to Nazi Germany, repeatedly accused it of genocide, and embraced Hamas terrorists as freedom fighters.

Qatar also backs the terror group and hosts its political leaders in Doha. Although Arab officials have repeatedly told The Times of Israel that the United Arab Emirates and Qatar do not intend to contribute troops, Trump said on Saturday that Qatar would contribute troops to the planned International Stabilization Force in Gaza if needed. He praised the Gulf nation as an ally and key player in regional stability.

Trump made the remarks after he met Qatar’s emir and prime minister aboard Air Force One.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Trump was asked if Qatar would be willing to contribute troops to the peacekeeping force, and responded, “They’ll do it at the time they need to.”

Trump further said some 59 countries have expressed interest in assisting in postwar Gaza.

Israel’s opposition leaders have also said they oppose Turkish or Qatari forces being involved in post-war Gaza.

The war was triggered on October 7, 2023, when Hamas led a devastating invasion of southern Israel.

Since the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip on October 10, the latter has sought to reassert its presence on the ground and reaffirm control over the devastated Palestinian enclave, reportedly executing at least 33 people it accused of collaborating with Israel.

Agencies contributed to this report.