Report claims Israel provided drones and explosives to support Gaza City militia that clashed with Hamas

Sources who spoke to a UK-based Arabic newspaper claim Israel flew drones and deployed explosives in support of an armed militia that engaged in a gunfight with Hamas operatives in Gaza City’s Tuffah neighborhood this morning.

The self-styled “Popular Defense Forces” militia is based on the Israeli-controlled side of the Gaza ceasefire line, called the Yellow Line, and late last month seized part of Tuffah that is adjacent to the line on the territory’s Hamas-controlled side, forcing residents to flee, according to Asharq al-Awsat.

This morning, members of the militia marched toward the Sanafour Junction but were ambushed by Hamas and other operatives in a residential area, Asharq al-Awsat reports, citing area sources close to Hamas.

The junction lies on the major Salah al-Din Road, on the Hamas-controlled side of Tuffah.

The gunfight lasted 20 minutes before the militia retreated behind the Yellow Line, the sources tell Asharq al-Awsat. No casualties were reported. The outlet says this was the first case of open warfare between Hamas and rival gangs in the area.

Sources cited by Asharq al-Awsat claim that Israeli drones flew overhead during the clash, and that after the clash, Israel launched drone strikes and deployed “vehicles packed with tons of explosives that were detonated in batches to blow up what remained of the houses in the area.”

The IDF does not immediately respond to a request for comment, including on whether the anti-Hamas militia coordinated with the military before crossing the Yellow Line.

Anti-Hamas militias in Gaza have stepped up their activity since the Israel-Hamas ceasefire took effect on October 9. During that time, Hamas has put to death people it accused of collaborating with Israel.

The Ynet news site reported in July that the Popular Defense Forces was one of the Fatah-linked, anti-Hamas militias that were being supported by Israel and the Palestinian Authority in Gaza. The militia’s leader, Rami Helles, is reportedly a Fatah operative from a family at odds with Hamas.

He is an ally of the most prominent Gaza militia, reportedly backed by Israel, Abu Shabab. Helles issued a eulogy for that militia’s leader and namesake, Yasser Abu Shabab, when he was killed early last month, reportedly as a result of an internal dispute.

The Popular Defense Forces militia has killed at least two Palestinians over the past 10 days or so, Asharq al-Awsat says. It’s unclear from the report in what circumstances they were killed.