Popular Army in Rafah

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Free Homeland Forces
قوات الوطن الحر
Other namePopular Army in Rafah
Leader
Shawqi Abu Nasira
Dates active1 September, 2025 — present
Country Palestine
Allegiance Popular Forces administration
HeadquartersAl Azmi Basic Co-education school
Active regionsRafah and Khan Yunis
IdeologyAnti-Hamas
StatusActive
Size~30
Part of Popular Forces
Wars

The Free Homeland Forces (Arabic: قوات الوطن الحر, romanized: al-Quwwat al-Watan al-Hu'r),[1] also known as the Popular Army in Rafah (Arabic: الجيش الشعبي في رفح, romanized: Al-Jaysh al-Shaabi fi Rafah)[2] is an anti-Hamas Palestinian militant group led by Shawqi Abu Nasira, a former Palestinian Authority officer.[3] His group reportedly operates as part of the Popular Forces[4] and is composed of around 30 fighters.[5] His group is headquartered in the Masadaa Ibn Abed Allah Al Azmi Basic Co-education school in Eastern Khan Yunis[6], though it operates in both Rafah and Khan Yunis. The existence of the group was only revealed in late November 2025, however it has been active since 1 September, 2025.[7]

Background and history

Shawqi Abu Nasira

Shawqi Abu Nasira is a former Palestinian Authority Lieutenant Colonel and Fatah member.[8] During the 1980s, Abu Nasira was reportedly imprisoned for 16 years by Israel for militant activity, and briefly escaped from prison. Following his release and the implementation of the Oslo Accords, he joined the Palestinian Authority security forces. One of Abu Nasira's sons was reportedly killed during the Gaza war by Hamas for criticizing Hamas, which led to him opposing Hamas.[9][10]

Societal breakdown in Gaza

During the course of the Gaza war, societal breakdown across the Gaza Strip led to famine and a lack of supplies causing a weaker Hamas, resulting in the rise of anti-Hamas armed elements in the Gaza Strip.[11][12]

Relations

Abu Nasira has stated that his group is not collaborating with Israel, and has stated that Iran, which supports Hamas, is the enemy "of Islam and Sunnis". The rest of the Abu Nasira family has disavowed him.[13]

Abu Nasira's group operates within the portion of Gazan territory under Israeli military control. In an interview with Israeli television in December 2025, Abu Nasira said, "The relationship between us and the Israelis is a strong relationship and an intimate friendship, and we will live with them for the rest of our lives in security and peace….They provide us with weapons, food, and clothing, and we coordinate with them on security to the fullest extent."[14]

Compared to the rest of the Popular Forces, Abu Nasira's group has displayed greater willingness to work with Israel. The group operates more boldly than other anti-Hamas groups in Gaza and its members speak fluent Hebrew when speaking with Israeli media. Abu Nasira's group has presented itself as a potential alternative to Hamas's rule in Gaza more often than other groups.[15]

Abu Nasira claims that he is in contact with other anti-Hamas militant groups on establishing a united front called the "National Guard for East Gaza".[9]

Operations

While the existence of the group was only revealed in late November 2025, it had reportedly already been active for several months.[16] The FHF/PAR reportedly operates as part of the Popular Forces[4] and is composed of around 30 fighters.[5]

On 14 December, the Popular Forces claimed responsibility for the assassination of 49-year-old Lieutenant Colonel Ahmed Zamzam, who was a key member in Gaza's Internal Security Apparatus. Zamzam was gunned down by armed men in the Maghazi refugee camp, with one of the men being arrested. The Gaza Interior Ministry-affiliated Rad'a force claimed the Zamzam had been killed by "Israeli-supported" mercenaries under direct guidance from Israel’s Shin Bet.[17] An investigation by Asharq Al-Awsat had found that the assassination was carried out by members of Shawqi Abu Nasira's group.[15]

In April 2026, the Free Homeland Forces raided the Maghazi refugee camp near Deir al-Balah in Gaza searching for Hamas fighters while the Israeli military provided air support. The militia killed at least ten people and wounded many more.[14]

Hamas response

Raid on Abu Nasira's home

On 22 December 2025, a unit of the Gaza police known as the Sahm 103 unit or Arrow Unit, which specialises in targeting collaborators with Israel, said on its Telegram channel that it had detained Abu Nasira's wife and son.[1]

Abu Nasira accused Hamas of having raided his house, abducted his wife and stolen money, a gas canister, and solar panels. "I don't know if this is a rule of law or of larceny", Abu Nasira said in an interview on 23 December 2025 with Jusoor News, a pan-Arab, anti-Hamas media outlet.[1]

The Sahm unit also state that Abu Nasira's family members had 700,000 Israeli shekels ($220,000 at the time) in their possession.[1]

References

  1. Lehmann, Noam (25 December 2025). "Gaza militia chief says Hamas raided his home, arrested his wife". The Times of Israel. ISSN 0040-7909. Retrieved 28 December 2025.
  2. Truzman, Joe (6 December 2025). "Anti-Hamas Popular Forces militia leader killed in Gaza". FDD's Long War Journal. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
  3. "New Gaza militia declares war on Hamas: 'Your dirty shoes are more honorable'". Yahoo News. 23 November 2025. Retrieved 3 December 2025.
  4. Israel, David (8 February 2026). "Report: Israel Supports Gaza Proxy Militias Fighting Hamas | The Jewish Edition". Retrieved 8 February 2026.
  5. "Shawqi Abu Nasira". ECFR. 25 November 2025. Retrieved 4 December 2025.
  6. Love, Jennifer. "The Blogs: Resisting the Resistance: Gaza's Anti-Hamas Militias". Retrieved 15 May 2026.
  7. Al-Tamimi, Aymenn Jawad (10 February 2026). "Anti-Hamas Armed Groups in Gaza: Interview with the 'Free Homeland Forces'". Middle East Forum.
  8. "Shawqi Abu Nasira". European Council on Foreign Relations. 25 November 2025. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  9. Staff, A. O. L. (2 December 2025). "Gaza militia leader forms rival force against Hamas, warns terrorists are regrouping amid ceasefire". www.aol.com. Retrieved 3 December 2025.
  10. "Anti-Hamas militia emerges in Khan Younis, Gaza". Israel Hayom. 23 November 2025. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  11. "UN rights office says 'anarchy' spreading in Gaza". Reuters. 19 July 2024. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  12. 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.
  13. "New Gaza militia forms under Shawqi Abu Nasira". The Jerusalem Post. 23 November 2025. Retrieved 3 December 2025.
  14. Ahmed, Mohammed; Ahmad, Jawa; Abdel Kouddous, Sharif (8 April 2026). "Israeli-Backed Militia Launches Deadly Attack on Gaza Refugee Camp Under Cover of Airstrikes". Drop Site News. Archived from the original on 21 May 2026.
  15. "Anti-Hamas Palestinian gangs utilize new tactics in Gaza". The Jerusalem Post. 29 January 2026. ISSN 0792-822X. Retrieved 26 February 2026.
  16. "Shawqi Abu Nasira". European Council on Foreign Relations. 25 November 2025. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  17. Halabi, Einav; Zitun, Yoav (14 December 2025). "Israeli-backed militia claims responsibility for killing senior Hamas security officer in Gaza". Ynetglobal. Retrieved 15 December 2025.