Counter-Terrorism Strike Force

Counter-Terrorism Strike Force
LeaderHusam al-Astal
Dates of operation21 August 2025  – present
Split fromPopular Forces Popular Forces[1]
HeadquartersKizan al-Najjar, Khan Yunis
Active regionsSee administration
IdeologyAnti-Hamas
Size~40 fighters[2]
Allies
Opponents
Wars
WebsiteOfficial Facebook page

The Counter-Terrorism Strike Force[3] or Anti-Terror Strike Force[4] (Arabic: قوة مكافحة الإرهاب, romanized: Quwwat Mukafahat Al-Irhab, abbreviated as CTSF or ATSF) also known as the Strike Force Against Terror (Arabic: قوة الضربة لمكافحة الإرهاب, romanized: Quwwat al-Darbat li'Mukafahat Al-Irhab, abbreviated as SFAT)[3] is an anti-Hamas Palestinian militant organization that emerged during the Gaza war. It is based in Kizan al-Najjar in Khan Yunis, and is reportedly supported by Israel.

Background

The CTSF was founded on 21 August 2025 during the societal breakdown within Gaza, stating to combat the "repression and terrorism practiced by Hamas". It is based in and controls the village of Kizan al-Najjar, south of Khan Yunis.[5][3]

CTSF leadership appears to consist largely of figures affiliated with Fatah, mainly from al-Astal's extended family.[6]

History

The neoconservative Foundation for Defense of Democracies said that the CTSF is supported by Israel's Shin Bet and the Israeli Defense Forces.[7] According to the Jerusalem Post the CTSF and the Popular Forces are reportedly in contact with one another but work independently.[8]

The group is led by Husam al-Astal, a Palestinian Bedouin who worked in Israel and then worked for the Palestinian Authority security forces when they still controlled Gaza. He has spoken favorably about the era of direct Israeli military rule in Gaza prior to the 2005 disengagement. Al-Astal was previously imprisoned and given a death sentence by Hamas for his involvement with Israel, and was accused of involvement in the 2018 assassination of a Hamas-associated engineer in Malaysia.[8]

According to Hamas, al-Astal is linked to Mossad.[9] Before founding the Counter-Terrorism Strike Force, Ynet reported that al-Astal was a member of the Popular Forces.[5]

Operations

Al-Astal has said that the CTSF helped defend the Al-Mujaida clan of Khan Yunis after Hamas forces launched a raid on the clan on 3 October 2025.[10] It marked the first time the group battled Hamas.[11]

In October 2025, the CTSF reached an agreement with the Israeli Defense Forces to establish a "Green Line" where no fighting would take place.[12]

In November 2025, Al-Astal told Israeli media that "US representatives" had stated that his group would play a part in the future police force in Gaza. Al-Astal, once worked with the Palestinian Authority, said that he and his group coordinated with Israel to bring supplies to the CTSF and expressed interest to collaborate with Palestinian Authority and the United States.[13]

In January 2026, the CTSF claimed responsibility for the assassination of 40-year-old Lieutenant Colonel Mahmoud Al-Astal, the head of investigations and the criminal police unit of the Gaza police in Khan Yunis.[14][15] The killing was reported amid ongoing internal instability in Gaza despite a ceasefire and followed earlier operations attributed to Israel-aligned local groups operating independently of direct Israeli military involvement.[14]

Administration

Main article: Counter-Terrorism Strike Force administration in the Gaza Strip

See also

References

  1. ^ "Israels støtte til rivaliserende militser svekker Hamas i Gaza". Geopolitka.no (in Norwegian). 2025-10-21. Retrieved 2025-11-28.
  2. ^ Sharawi, Ahmad; Truzman, Joe (19 October 2025). "Profiles of anti-Hamas militias in the Gaza Strip". FDD's Long War Journal. Retrieved 6 December 2025.
  3. ^ a b c Yohanan, Nurit (2025-09-22). "In southern Gaza, new anti-Hamas enclave emerges under militia claiming Israeli backing". The Times of Israel. ISSN 0040-7909. Retrieved 2025-10-13.
  4. ^ "Beyond Hamas: Gaza's Emerging Tribal Militias". This is Beirut. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  5. ^ a b Halabi, Einav (2025-10-12). "Gaza militia commander tells ynet: 'Hamas is weak — it's only a matter of time until it falls'". Ynetglobal. Retrieved 2025-10-13.
  6. ^ Matamis, Joaquin (2025-10-27). "Gaza's Armed Fragmentation: Clans, Militias, and Rival Power Centers • Stimson Center". Stimson Center. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
  7. ^ Truzman, Joe (2025-09-19). "New anti-Hamas militia emerges in Gaza". FDD's Long War Journal. Retrieved 2025-09-21.
  8. ^ a b "Israel-aligned Bedouin-linked factions to combat Hamas". The Jerusalem Post. 2025-09-20. Retrieved 2025-09-21.
  9. ^ Truzman, Joe (2025-09-19). "New anti-Hamas militia emerges in Gaza". FDD's Long War Journal. Retrieved 2025-09-21.
  10. ^ Fabian, Emanuel; Yohanan, Nurit (2025-10-03). "Israeli airstrikes thwart Hamas attack on rival armed Gazan group in Strip's south". The Times of Israel. ISSN 0040-7909. Retrieved 2025-10-03.
  11. ^ "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.
  12. ^ "Gaza militia leader claims to receive support from Israel". The Jerusalem Post. 2025-10-25. Retrieved 2025-10-29.
  13. ^ Williamson, Lucy (2025-11-21). "Anti-Hamas armed groups seek future role under Gaza peace plan". BBC News. Retrieved 2025-11-22.
  14. ^ a b Al-Mughrabi, Nidal (2026-01-13). "Israeli-backed group kills a senior Hamas police officer in Gaza, threatens more attacks". Reuters. Retrieved 2026-01-13.
  15. ^ Lehmann, Noam (2026-01-12). "Head of Gaza militia claims killing of senior Hamas cop". The Times of Israel. ISSN 0040-7909. Retrieved 2026-01-13.
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