Popular Army – Northern Forces
| Popular Army – Northern Forces | |
|---|---|
| الجيش الشعبي – القوات الشمال | |
| Also known as | People's Army – Northern Forces |
| Leader | Ashraf al-Mansi |
| Dates of operation | 2025 – present |
| Country | Palestine |
| Allegiance | Popular Forces administration |
| Headquarters | Ezbet Beit Hanoun Elementary School, Northern Gaza |
| Active regions | Northern Gaza (primarily Jabalia and Beit Lahiya) |
| Ideology | Anti-Hamas Islamism (alleged) |
| Size | ~40 |
| Part of | Popular Forces |
| Allies | Israel |
| Opponents | |
| Battles and wars | |
| Flag | |
The Popular Army – Northern Forces (PA-NF; Arabic: الجيش الشعبي – القوات الشمال)[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] It is led by Ashraf Al-Mansi.
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 and operations
The group's leader, Ashraf al-Mansi, had a criminal background before he officially founded the Popular/People's Army–Northern Forces.[8]
In October, the PA-NF held a military parade following the ceasefire on 10 October in northern Gaza.[9] That same month, the PA-NF, its parent organization (the Popular Forces), and 2 other anti-Hamas militants reportedly thanked Donald Trump for the Gaza peace plan and ceasefire.[10]
Clashes with Hamas
After the 10 October ceasefire, Hamas allegedly redeployed members in Jabalia and the refugee camp, where they supposedly launched a crackdown on PA-NF, allegedly arresting and killing its members.[11] However, this was denied by PA-NF in a video released on 14 October.[12] It was reported that clashes between Gazan Security Forces and PA-NF had taken place in Jabalia and Beit Lahia.[13]
Territorial control and structure
The PA-NF is headquartered in the Ezbet Beit Hanoun Elementary School in Northern Gaza.[13] It led by Ashraf al-Mansi, a resident of Gaza City and is made up of around 40 fighters.[14] The militia is primarily made up of former drug dealers/traffickers, with its leader Ashraf al-Mansi having a criminal background.[13]
On 14 October 2025, Ashraf Al-Mansi, the group's leader, released a video where he denied the alleged Hamas crackdown. Al-Mansi also proclaimed that PA-NF controls several areas in northern Gaza, and warned Hamas from entering their territory.[12] Its flag featuring the logo of PA-NF, is displayed on its vehicles and facilities within its territory.[15]
The militias also maintains ties with the IDF.[13] Unlike the self-proclaimed "un-ideological" parent organization the Popular Forces,[16] some sources have accused the PA-NF of being Islamist.[17][18] One prominent PA-NF lieutenant, Abu Anas Zeidan, is a former Salafi jihadist who was part of the Islamic State before joining al-Mansi's group.[19]
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.
- ^ "Inside post-ceasefire Gaza: Israel-backed militias, clan wars and Hamas's fight to survive". France 24. 2025-10-24. Retrieved 2026-02-03.
- ^ "Gaza Militia "People's Army Northern Forces" Holds Parade Amid Fighting With Hamas". Retrieved 2025-10-22.
- ^ Weinthal, Benjamin (2025-10-08). "Anti-Hamas Gaza militias reject terror group, declare support for Trump's peace plan". Fox News. Retrieved 2025-11-29.
- ^ "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.
- ^ a b c d Matamis, Joaquin (2025-10-27). "Gaza's Armed Fragmentation: Clans, Militias, and Rival Power Centers • Stimson Center". Stimson Center. Retrieved 2026-03-08.
- ^ Easter, Reagan (2025-10-19). "Profiles of anti-Hamas militias in the Gaza Strip". FDD. Retrieved 2025-10-21.
- ^ "Armed group labels Hamas 'terrorist,' warns against movements in northern Gaza". Türkiye Today. Retrieved 2025-10-22.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Adler, Jonathan (2025-12-12). "Israel's Gaza proxy strategy is collapsing". +972 Magazine. Retrieved 2025-12-24.