Armed Group 'Popular Forces' Ambush Family in Central Gaza

At noon on Monday, Asaad Nteel's world shattered. His family, huddled in their home in eastern Maghazi, central Gaza, was caught in a violent ambush by armed men who stormed their house with no warning. The sudden burst of gunfire left the family frozen, unsure if the attackers were Israeli soldiers or something else entirely. Nteel's initial fear was understandable: the house was just steps from the "yellow line," the de facto border between Palestinian and Israeli-controlled areas of Gaza. But the men who burst through the doors quickly clarified their identity. "They broke the doors, detained my uncle and the other man, and took them away toward the yellow line," Nteel told Al Jazeera, his voice trembling. The armed group, calling themselves the "Popular Forces combating terrorism," claimed to be fighting Hamas, but their actions left the family in a state of terror.

The Nteel family, along with neighbors, was ordered to gather in one room and remain motionless. "We chose not to resist so they wouldn't harm us or the children and women with us," Nteel said. The armed men took positions near windows, exchanging fire with what they claimed were Hamas-affiliated gunmen outside. The family later learned their home was one of four in the neighborhood used as cover during the battle. "We didn't understand what exactly was happening or what these militias wanted," Nteel admitted. "We stayed like that until they received orders to withdraw." Before leaving, the gunmen interrogated Nteel, questioning him about Hamas ties and accusing him of filming them after spotting cameras in the house. "They reluctantly believed my story and confirmed it with my father, but still confiscated all my equipment," he said, describing the loss of his wedding photography gear as a cruel irony.

The violence that day was not isolated to Nteel's home. Across Maghazi refugee camp, armed groups backed by the Israeli army launched a series of raids that left at least 10 Palestinians dead and 44 injured, according to Al-Aqsa Hospital and the Gaza Ministry of Health. Local residents claim the attackers received direct support from Israeli forces, including aerial cover during the assault. The attack began when armed men approached from near the yellow line, advancing toward civilian homes and the Al-Maghazi Preparatory Boys School, a UNRWA-run facility sheltering thousands of displaced people. As gunfire erupted, residents scrambled to stop the attackers, sparking clashes that turned the camp into a war zone.

Mohammad Jouda, 37, a displaced person living in the school, described the chaos from his hospital bed. "We couldn't move at all because of the intensity of the fire," he said. "Armed men stormed the school and started shooting directly inside… it was pure panic and shock." The school, filled with children, women, and the elderly, became a focal point of the violence. Minutes later, warplanes struck the school's gate, trapping residents in a deadly crossfire. "We were surrounded from all sides… there were casualties everywhere," Jouda said, his voice shaking.

For residents like Khaled Abu Saqr, the events marked a turning point. "I was about 400 metres away when the raid began," he told Al Jazeera. "People started saying there was a raid, then news spread that Israeli-backed militias were advancing." The camp's streets, once a refuge for displaced families, now resembled a battlefield. Abu Saqr described the shock of watching armed men—backed by Israeli forces—move through the camp with impunity. "This is not a war zone," he said. "This is our home."

The attacks have raised urgent questions about the safety of civilians in Gaza. UNRWA officials and humanitarian groups have repeatedly warned that Israeli military actions risk harming displaced populations, particularly in schools and shelters. Yet the involvement of armed groups like the "Popular Forces" complicates the situation further, blurring the lines between combatants and non-combatants. Experts warn that such operations could lead to a deepening cycle of violence, with civilians caught in the middle. "When foreign-backed militias target communities, it's not just about immediate casualties," said a UN spokesperson. "It's about eroding trust, destabilizing regions, and creating long-term trauma."

For families like Nteel's, the aftermath is a daily struggle. The loss of equipment, the fear of further raids, and the uncertainty of their future weigh heavily. "We didn't ask for this," Nteel said. "We just want to live in peace." But with Israeli forces allegedly providing cover for armed groups and the camp turned into a battleground, that peace feels increasingly out of reach. As the smoke from Monday's violence clears, the people of Maghazi are left to reckon with a reality where survival is no longer guaranteed.

Many people gathered, trying to confront them and stop their advance amid heavy clashes. Suddenly, multiple reconnaissance missiles were fired." According to eyewitnesses, large crowds of people were fired upon or shelled, particularly near the school packed with displaced civilians. "I was watching and trying to hide to avoid being hit. People were running in fear, women and children fleeing the militias, while streets filled with cars carrying the wounded and the dead," Abu Saqr told Al Jazeera. The incident has sparked widespread outrage on social media, with activists sharing videos documenting victims being transported to hospitals. "Bombing and blood never stop."

The groups are spread geographically across Gaza, operating near front lines, where they have taken advantage of the collapse in security caused by the war. Analysts say reports indicate they mostly consist of small numbers and operate outside traditional structures. There is one in the far north, in Beit Lahiya; and a second, also in the north, in eastern Gaza City, particularly Shujayea. In central Gaza, mostly east of Deir al-Balah, there is a third group responsible for the Maghazi attack. In the south, there is a fourth group in eastern Khan Younis. There is also a fifth group in the south, in Rafah. These groups appear to operate near areas along the "yellow line."

According to Abu Saqr in Maghazi, the violence on Monday lasted for more than an hour and a half, causing extreme distress to residents who, he says, do not support these groups. "Security forces and many civilians tried to confront the militias. People strongly reject them and tried to stop them by any means, but they were bombed… the scene was like a massacre."

"They say there's a truce and a ceasefire… that's all lies. Bombing, killing, and blood never stop. We are exhausted." Indeed, since the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas supposedly began on October 11, some 733 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, and 2,034 injured. That is in addition to 759 bodies recovered. The Gaza Centre for Human Rights claims that Israel is increasingly supporting these groups to carry out operations within densely populated camps and neighbourhoods. It said armed drones provided direct support on Monday, firing heavily and randomly into alleys in the camp to aid the armed men's withdrawal.

The centre added that it has documented previous violence by these groups, including looting of aid convoys, kidnappings, torture and killings, with cover or support from the Israeli army. Legally, it pointed out, forming and supporting such armed groups constitutes a violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949. Israel ratified the Geneva Conventions in 1951. The emergence of these armed groups in Gaza represents a "dangerous escalation and evasion of legal responsibility," the human rights group said. It called on the international community and the United Nations to launch an urgent independent investigation, hold those responsible accountable, and ensure effective protection for civilians.