The Saudi-owned Asharq Al-Awsat reports that Hamas is demanding the dismantling of local militias that cooperate with Israel as a condition for Gaza disarmament. The report adds that these militias have escalated their operations, expanding killings and arrests against Hamas operatives, allegedly using advanced Israeli-supplied equipment.
The Saudi news outlet Asharq Al-Awsat reports that Hamas is conditioning any agreement on Gaza's disarmament on the dismantling of local militias that cooperate with Israel. The report, citing unnamed sources, says these militias have escalated their activities, expanding assassinations and arrests targeting Hamas operatives, allegedly with advanced equipment provided by the IDF.
The claim aligns with past reports of friction between Hamas and local armed committees in Gaza. As The Zioneer reported on June 12, footage showed armed Popular Committees militiamen crossing into Hamas-controlled territory in northern Gaza and taunting the group. Hamas has a history of summary executions of alleged collaborators, as noted in our June 14 report on a firing-squad execution of three accused collaborators.
The demand introduces a new precondition that could complicate already-stalled disarmament talks. The report remains attributed to a single source and unconfirmed by official channels; Hamas has not issued an on-record response.
Source and signal
A single-sourced dispatch is never rated Confirmed or Strong. Its Signal strengthens only when a second, independent source corroborates it.
- Internal intake