Israel-backed militia leader outlines plan for a “New Gaza” without Hamas

Hussam al-Astal, the leader of one of the militias armed by Israel against Hamas in Gaza, spoke to Sky News.

Al-Astal stated that the group he leads is part of a joint project to remove Hamas from power and that they receive support from various Arab and Western countries.

Sky News announced that it had confirmed for the first time that Israel supports four anti-Hamas militia organizations, which see themselves as part of a joint project to oust Hamas from power.

According to the report, all armed militias operate in Israeli-controlled areas behind the “yellow line,” the deployment boundary for the Israeli army established by the ceasefire.

‘New Gaza’ project

Speaking from his base in southern Gaza, militia leader Hussam al-Astal said, “I, Yasser Abu Shabab, Rami Halles, and Ashraf al-Mansi have a joint project.”

Al-Astal continued, “We are all in favor of a ‘New Gaza.’ Soon, we will establish control over the entire Gaza Strip and unite under one roof.”

700 meters from an Israeli outpost

Sky News reported that it had identified the location of the headquarters of the militia led by Hussam al-Astal based on footage shared with them.

According to this information, the headquarters is located on the military road that follows the yellow line and is less than 700 meters from the nearest Israeli outpost.

“I hear the sound of tanks as we speak; they are probably on patrol. But I am not worried,” al-Astal said, adding, “They don’t fire at us, and we don’t fire at them… We agreed through a coordinator that this would be a ‘green zone’ that would not come under fire.”

Sentenced to death by Hamas

Al-Astal said he grew up in this area, once a leafy suburb of Khan Younis, Gaza’s second-largest city.

However, he explained that he had to flee in 2010 because he was wanted by Hamas due to his connections with militant groups aligned with the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority.

He stated that he spent the next 11 years working for the Palestinian Authority’s security services in Egypt and Malaysia.

Two months after his return to Gaza, he was accused of involvement in the 2018 assassination of a Hamas member in Malaysia and was sentenced to death.

Al-Astal described his escape from prison: “When the war started, they locked us inside and waited for the Israelis to bomb the prison. Two months later, we broke down the doors and escaped.”

Weapons from the black market, ammunition from Israel

The militias claim that most of their weapons are Kalashnikov rifles, which they buy on the black market from former Hamas fighters.

The report states that ammunition and vehicles are brought in through the Kerem Shalom border crossing after coordination with the Israeli army.

It is known that another militia leader, Yasser Abu Shabab, also uses this crossing.

Sky News previously revealed that Abu Shabab’s militia had smuggled vehicles into Gaza with the help of the Israeli army and an Arab-Israeli car dealer.

Al-Astal stated that he uses the same dealer and that one of his vehicles has partially scraped-off Hebrew writing on it.

Meanwhile, al-Astal explained that they receive weekly shipments of basic necessities for the civilians living in the camp, saying, “We provide basic health and education support to about 30 families.”

“Children can find apples, bananas, food, drinks, and chips. In the tents in other areas, children aged 5, 10, or even 15 often can’t find more than lentils and pasta,” he said.

Footage of the weekly shipments shows a cargo truck at the militia base. The report also noted that a similar truck was identified in the camp in satellite images dated October 14.

The Palestinian Authority plays a key role in coordination

Sky News confirmed that the other two militias operating in northern Gaza also receive aid from Israel.

A militia member from the group led by Rami Halles, which operates in the north, stated that coordination with Israel is conducted indirectly through the District Coordination Office (DCO), which is affiliated with COGAT.

Officials from the Palestinian Authority also serve in this unit, which is part of the Israeli Ministry of Defense.

Sky News reported that this information aligns with statements from an Israeli soldier stationed at Kerem Shalom and a senior commander from the Abu Shabab militia.

According to this, coordination is conducted indirectly through military channels, and the Palestinian Authority plays a key role in this process.

“There are people in my group who are still employees of the Palestinian Authority today,” al-Astal said.

The Ramallah administration did not respond to Sky News‘s questions and had denied having any relationship with these militias.

Al-Astal explained this situation, saying, “The Palestinian Authority cannot admit to a direct relationship with us; it already has enough problems. You can imagine how it would look if it were revealed that it has ties to militias or the ‘occupying forces.'”

Are military operations also coordinated?

Although al-Astal admitted to working with Israel for supplies, he claimed that he does not coordinate any military operations with the Israeli army.

However, it was previously revealed that Israeli aircraft had intervened in two clashes involving the Abu Shabab militia. Abu Shabab was asked if this was a result of coordination, but no response was received.

Hamas accused al-Astal’s group of direct military coordination after its fighters were killed during an Israeli intervention in a clash between the two groups on October 3.

Footage released by the Israeli army also confirms the attacks carried out on that day.

Al-Astal denied the allegations, saying, “I do not control Israeli airstrikes. The Israelis saw armed Hamas elements and struck them.”

External support from the UAE

Multiple sources told Sky News that the militias also receive support from external powers.

Ghassan al-Duhinah, the second-in-command of the Abu Shabab militia, was photographed twice next to a vehicle with United Arab Emirates (UAE) license plates.

Furthermore, it was determined that the logo of the militia, which uses the name “Counter-Terrorism Force,” is nearly identical to the logo of a UAE-backed militia group of the same name in Yemen.

The UAE did not respond to Sky News‘s request for comment.

When asked about UAE support, al-Astal smiled and said, “Inshallah, everything will become clear in time,” adding, “Yes, there are Arab countries that support our project.”

Kushner also mentioned ‘New Gaza’

Al-Astal also named this project: “You will see with your own hands; soon we will be the new administration of Gaza. Our project is ‘New Gaza.’ No war, peace with everyone; no Hamas, no terror.”

Two days after Sky News‘s interview with al-Astal, Jared Kushner, the son-in-law and senior advisor to former US President Donald Trump, also used the phrase “New Gaza.”

Kushner suggested that Gaza could be divided along the yellow line for an indefinite period and said, “No reconstruction funds will go to the areas controlled by Hamas.”

Kushner concluded his remarks: “Assessments are being made to start the construction of a ‘New Gaza’ in the area controlled and secured by the Israeli army, so that Gazans can be provided with a place to go and find work.”