The head of a Gaza militia that’s forming a force against Hamas has thanked President Donald Trump, while cautioning that the ceasefire is allowing Hamas to regain strength.
Shawky Abu Nasira mentioned that the pause in fighting is akin to a “kiss of life” for Hamas, giving them the opportunity to reorganize and continue their activities in different areas of the enclave.
“Hamas is effectively acting for Iran,” Abu Nasira noted. “Sure, they’ve been weakened, but this ceasefire has given them a chance to regroup and improve their readiness. They’re even setting up their own centers.”
Abu Nasira, who previously served as a senior official in the Palestinian Authority and spent 16 years in Israeli prisons, currently leads a small faction located east of Gaza’s Yellow Line, an area under Israeli control.
“I relocated east of the yellow line. I had no choice but to leave Hamas and move,” he explained.
He expressed gratitude to President Trump for actions taken to freeze Hamas’ assets and for designating several Muslim Brotherhood branches as terrorist groups. “I just want to thank President Trump for these measures,” he stated.
After losing his only son, whose remains were paraded around Gaza, Abu Nasira parted ways with Hamas, as reported by a pan-Arab news source.
His faction consists of only a few dozen fighters and is short on resources. “We’re really in need of better equipment and support,” he remarked.
Despite these challenges, he believes that public resentment towards Hamas is growing. “People are living in tents and on the streets, and they’re starving. They really don’t want Hamas anymore,” he shared.
Smaller militias are forming across Gaza, some with changing alliances in places like Rafah, northern Gaza, Khan Yunis, and eastern Gaza City. Abu Nasira stated that various groups are still in communication, aiming for unified action.
“We’re trying to bring these groups together under one political umbrella, serving as a National Guard for East Gaza,” he said.
He argued that with support from outside, Palestinians can effectively challenge Hamas. “We can take action against them now,” he asserted. “With your help, we could end this conflict in a matter of months.”
