| country = {{flag|Palestine}}
| country = {{flag|Palestine}}
| allegiance = {{flag icon|Popular Forces}} [[Popular Forces administration in the Gaza Strip|Popular Forces administration]]
| allegiance = {{flag icon|Popular Forces}} [[Popular Forces administration in the Gaza Strip|Popular Forces administration]]
| ideology = [[Islamism]]<br/>[[Criticism of Hamas|anti-Hamas]]
| ideology = [[Criticism of Hamas|anti-Hamas]]
| size = ~40
| size = ~40
| partof = {{flagicon|Palestine}} [[Popular Forces]]
| allies = {{flag|Israel}}
| allies = {{flag|Israel}}
| opponents = {{flag|Hamas}}
| opponents = {{flag|Hamas}}
=== 2025 ===
=== 2025 ===
In October, the PANF, its parent organization the [[Popular Forces]] and 2 other [[Criticism of Hamas|anti-Hamas]] militants reportedly thanked Donald Trump for the [[Gaza peace plan]] and ceasefire.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Weinthal |first=Benjamin |date=2025-10-08 |title=Anti-Hamas Gaza militias reject terror group, declare support for Trump’s peace plan |url=https://www.foxnews.com/world/anti-hamas-gaza-militias-reject-terror-group-declare-support-trumps-peace-plan |access-date=2025-10-22 |website=Fox News |language=en-US}}</ref>
After the 10 October ceasefire, Hamas allegedly redeployed members in Jabalia and the refugee camp, where they supposedly launched a crackdown on PANF, allegedly arresting and killing its members.<ref name=”:5″>{{Cite news |date=2025-10-12 |title=Hamas reappears on Gaza’s streets, and two of three militias that fought it go quiet |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/hamas-reappears-on-gazas-streets-and-two-of-three-militias-that-fought-it-go-quiet/ |access-date=2025-10-13 |work=The Times of Israel |language=en-US |issn=0040-7909}}</ref> However, this was denied by PANF in a video released on 14 October.<ref name=”:0″>{{Cite news |last=Yohanan |first=Nurit |date=2025-10-14 |title=Militia commander in northern Gaza: We have taken control of areas, call on Hamas to stay away |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/militia-commander-in-northern-gaza-we-have-taken-control-of-areas-call-on-hamas-to-stay-away/ |access-date=2025-10-16 |work=The Times of Israel |language=en-US |issn=0040-7909}}</ref>
After the 10 October ceasefire, Hamas allegedly redeployed members in Jabalia and the refugee camp, where they supposedly launched a crackdown on PANF, allegedly arresting and killing its members.<ref name=”:5″>{{Cite news |date=2025-10-12 |title=Hamas reappears on Gaza’s streets, and two of three militias that fought it go quiet |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/hamas-reappears-on-gazas-streets-and-two-of-three-militias-that-fought-it-go-quiet/ |access-date=2025-10-13 |work=The Times of Israel |language=en-US |issn=0040-7909}}</ref> However, this was denied by PANF in a video released on 14 October.<ref name=”:0″>{{Cite news |last=Yohanan |first=Nurit |date=2025-10-14 |title=Militia commander in northern Gaza: We have taken control of areas, call on Hamas to stay away |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/militia-commander-in-northern-gaza-we-have-taken-control-of-areas-call-on-hamas-to-stay-away/ |access-date=2025-10-16 |work=The Times of Israel |language=en-US |issn=0040-7909}}</ref>
The Popular Army – Northern Forces[1][2][3] or People’s Army – Northern Forces[4] is an Israeli-backed anti-Hamas Palestinian militant group in the northern Gaza Strip that operates as part of the Popular Forces.[1][5]
Background
During the Gaza war, societal breakdown across the Gaza Strip caused by offensives by the Israel Defense Forces on Palestinian law enforcement institutions as well as starvation, famine, and lack of supplies created by the conflict has led to the rise of anti-Hamas armed groups in the Gaza Strip.[6][7]
History
2025
In October, the PANF held a military parade following the ceasefire on 10 October in northern Gaza.[8] That same month, the PANF, its parent organization the Popular Forces, and 2 other anti-Hamas militants reportedly thanked Donald Trump for the Gaza peace plan and ceasefire.[citation needed]
After the 10 October ceasefire, Hamas allegedly redeployed members in Jabalia and the refugee camp, where they supposedly launched a crackdown on PANF, allegedly arresting and killing its members.[9] However, this was denied by PANF in a video released on 14 October.[10]
Territorial control and structure
On 14 October 2025, al-Mansi released a video where he denied the alleged Hamas crackdown, al-Mansi then proclaimed that PANF controls several areas in northern Gaza, and warned Hamas from entering their territory.[10] Its flag featuring the logo of PANF, is displayed on its vehicles and facilities within its territory.[11]
The militia is led by the Gaza City resident Ashraf al-Mansi and is made up of around 40 fighters.[12] Unlike the self-proclaimed “un-ideological” parent organization the Popular Forces,[13] some sources have accused the PANF of being Islamist.[14][15]
See also
References
- ^ a b Matamis, Joaquin (2025-10-27). “Gaza’s Armed Fragmentation: Clans, Militias, and Rival Power Centers • Stimson Center”. Stimson Center. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
- ^ Truzman, Ahmad Sharawi & Joe (2025-10-19). “Profiles of anti-Hamas militias in the Gaza Strip”. FDD’s Long War Journal. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
- ^ “What we know about the Israeli-backed militias scheming to overthrow Hamas”. L’Orient Today. 2025-11-03. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
- ^ “Anti-Hamas armed groups seek future role under Gaza peace plan”. BBC. 2025-11-21. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
- ^ Yohanan, Nurit (2025-10-12). “Hamas reappears on Gaza’s streets, and two of three militias that fought it go quiet”. The Times of Israel. ISSN 0040-7909. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
- ^ “UN rights office says ‘anarchy’ spreading in Gaza”. Reuters. 19 July 2024. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
- ^ Sunghay, Ajith (19 July 2024). “Observations from Gaza by Head of UN Human Rights office for the Occupied Palestinian Territory Ajith Sunghay”. UN Human Rights Office for the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
- ^ “Gaza Militia “People’s Army Northern Forces” Holds Parade Amid Fighting With Hamas”. Retrieved 2025-10-22.
- ^ “Hamas reappears on Gaza’s streets, and two of three militias that fought it go quiet”. The Times of Israel. 2025-10-12. ISSN 0040-7909. Retrieved 2025-10-13.
- ^ a b Yohanan, Nurit (2025-10-14). “Militia commander in northern Gaza: We have taken control of areas, call on Hamas to stay away”. The Times of Israel. ISSN 0040-7909. Retrieved 2025-10-16.
- ^ “Armed group labels Hamas ‘terrorist,’ warns against movements in northern Gaza”. Türkiye Today. Retrieved 2025-10-22.
- ^ Easter, Reagan (2025-10-19). “Profiles of anti-Hamas militias in the Gaza Strip”. FDD. Retrieved 2025-10-21.
- ^ Ynetnews (2025-07-27). “In Gaza’s Rafah, rebel commander claims war already over—and offers alternative to Hamas”. Ynetglobal. Retrieved 2025-10-22.
- ^ “Islamic militia calling itself ‘The People’s Army’ in Gaza issues threat to Hamas sparking concerns of civil war”.
- ^ Singh, Muskan (2025-10-15). “Who are ‘The People’s Army’ – militia threatening to end Hamas’ rule in Gaza?”. The Economic Times. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 2025-10-22.
