Israel has continued to support anti-Hamas militias operating in the Gaza Strip, the Wall Street Journal reports, providing them with weapons, support from drones, intelligence, food and cigarettes.
It has also airlifted wounded militia members into Israel for medical care, the report says.
The Journal highlights Israel’s support for one of the militias, led by Hussam Al Astal, who said his group killed a police officer in the half of Gaza controlled by Hamas. The militia reportedly has dozens of members who are based in the part of the enclave controlled by Israel.
Supporting the groups is a way for Israel to back maneuvers against Hamas despite limitations imposed on it by the ceasefire in the Strip, the Journal reports. Videos have showed the militia members with Israeli gear, according to the report.
Israel has previously acknowledged its support for militias fighting Hamas in the enclave. Israel has been reported to back the Popular Forces, a militia founded by an anti-Hamas armed Bedouin leader, Yasser Abu Shabab. Abu Shabab was killed in December in what the group described as a family feud.
Help us report truthfully on social media
As a multimedia journalist, my job is to take the quality, fact-based journalism produced by The Times of Israel newsroom and make it accessible across every platform — from Instagram posts to podcasts to short-form videos.
This is how many, especially young people, consume news these days. But misinformation is rampant on social media. Our team at ToI produces accurate, responsible short-form reporting on Israel and the Jewish world.
If you believe in the importance of factual social media journalism, please consider joining our reader support group, The Times of Israel Community. Your financial support is essential to sustain responsible multimedia reporting.
— Gabriella Jacobs, multimedia journalist
Support our work
Support our work
Already a member? Sign in to stop seeing this
You're a dedicated reader
We’re really pleased that you’ve read X Times of Israel articles in the past month.
That’s why we started the Times of Israel - to provide discerning readers like you with must-read coverage of Israel and the Jewish world.
So now we have a request. Unlike other news outlets, we haven’t put up a paywall. But as the journalism we do is costly, we invite readers for whom The Times of Israel has become important to help support our work by joining The Times of Israel Community.
For as little as $6 a month you can help support our quality journalism while enjoying The Times of Israel AD-FREE, as well as accessing exclusive content available only to Times of Israel Community members.
Thank you,
David Horovitz, Founding Editor of The Times of Israel
Join Our Community
Join Our Community
Already a member? Sign in to stop seeing this
From the Liveblog of
Sunday, January 25, 2026
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on Google
