Hamas fighters have reportedly not been paid for months.
Hezy Laing
There are increasing signs that Hamas’s grip on Gaza is weakening, as military, financial, and political pressures converge to erode its dominance.
Hamas fighters have reportedly not been paid for months, with salaries dropping from NIS 1,200 to NIS 900 at best.
The group is struggling to fund basic governance and has resorted to selling humanitarian aid supplies to generate income, which it then uses to purchase assets abroad.
The IDF believes only 3,000 Hamas fighters remain in Gaza City, including child militants aged 14 to 16.
While Hamas still possesses several hundred rockets and maintains an operational tunnel network, its ability to replenish weapons and equipment has been severely degraded.
The IDF has struck over 200 targets in recent weeks, further eroding Hamas’s infrastructure and battlefield capabilities.
Civilian support for Hamas also appears to be waning. Families in Gaza are reportedly refusing to shelter Hamas fighters, fearing Israeli retaliation.
Government ministries are dependent on international aid for fuel and medical supplies, as Hamas’s internal funding collapses.
There are growing calls from Gaza residents urging Hamas to surrender, as the humanitarian crisis deepens and Israeli military pressure intensifies.
In recent interviews, civilians in Gaza City have pleaded with Hamas to end the war before the city is reduced to ruins.
One resident, Emad, told reporters, “What are you waiting for? We say to Hamas, we want a ceasefire, end this war before Gaza City is turned into ruins like Rafah. How long is this going to go? How many lives are going to be wasted? Enough is enough”.
These sentiments reflect a shift in public mood, as hunger, displacement, and relentless bombardment have left hundreds of thousands of Palestinians desperate for relief.
Private militias and armed clans in Gaza are increasingly challenging Hamas’s authority, signaling a dramatic shift in the Strip’s internal power dynamics.
As the IDF intensifies its ground offensive, local clans—particularly in Gaza City and Rafah—have begun asserting control over neighborhoods, blocking Hamas operatives from regaining influence.
According to Israeli military sources, some clans have deployed hundreds of armed fighters at key entry points and have even engaged in direct confrontations with Hamas’s internal enforcement units, such as the notorious “Arrow Unit”.
One of the most prominent groups is the Abu Shabab clan, active between Rafah and Khan Yunis.
This militia has reportedly killed Hamas operatives in recent clashes and reached informal understandings with the IDF and Shin Bet, allowing them to remain in place while benefiting from safe zones and humanitarian corridors.
In eastern Rafah, Yasser Abu Shabab’s “Popular Forces” militia has gone further, announcing plans to replace Hamas’s rule with a civilian governance system.
The group is recruiting professionals—doctors, engineers, teachers, and lawyers—to form administrative committees and restore public services.
Their appeal to Gazans emphasizes dignity, protection, and rebuilding, exploiting the collapse of Hamas’s infrastructure and credibility.
Other clans, such as the Tarabin, Shawish, Baraka, and Abu Tir, have yet to take a clear stance but are reportedly offering shelter to civilians unwilling to evacuate, contingent on loyalty pledges. This suggests a growing fragmentation of authority and a shift toward localized rule.
Israel has reportedly armed some of these anti-Hamas factions with light weapons, viewing them as potential stabilizers in a post-Hamas Gaza.
While this strategy carries risks—including the rise of warlordism or factional violence—Israeli officials see it as a “positive process” that could help dismantle Hamas’s grip.
Israel’s latest offensive into Gaza City is described as the most intense phase yet. Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that the city
“will be destroyed” if Hamas does not surrender.
Together, these developments suggest that Hamas is facing military, financial, and political erosion. While it retains pockets of resistance, cracks in its dominance are becoming increasingly visible.
