Popular Forces administration in the Gaza Strip
Popular Forces administration in the Gaza Strip | |
|---|---|
Areas of influence of the Popular Forces (including claimed territories of the Popular Army – Northern Forces and the Popular Army in Rafah) | |
| Status | Unrecognized rival administration under Israeli military occupation |
| Capital | Al-Bayuk, Rafah Governorate |
| Demonym | Gazans |
| Government | |
• Leader | Ghassan Duhine |
| Establishment | Gaza war |
• First takeover of territories | 6 May 2025 |
• Claim of territory in eastern Rafah | 26 June 2025 |
• Claim of territory in northern Gaza | October 2025 |
• Spread into Khan Yunis | November 2025 |
• Spread into Western Rafah | December 2025 |
| Population | |
• 2025 estimate | ~2,000 |
During the Gaza war, the Popular Forces, an anti-Hamas, Israeli-backed, and allegedly Islamic State-linked armed group, has claimed control over large amounts of the Gaza Strip that are currently under Israeli military occupation. This was the first area in Gaza not administrated by Hamas since 2007.
More than 2,000 Palestinian civilians live in the Popular Forces' territory, according to the group's then-leader Yasser Abu Shabab.
The group claims control of Al-Bayuk as its headquarters, eastern Rafah, Khan Yunis, western Rafah, and humanitarian aid routes near the Kerem Shalom border crossing. It says it has freedom of movement in the wider Rafah area. Furthermore, the Popular Army – Northern Forces, which reportedly operates as part of the Popular Forces, has claimed control over several areas in northern Gaza.