Khalas clan

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Khalas clan
عشيرة الخلاص
CountryFlag of Palestine.svg Palestine
Place of origin Shuja'iyya, Gaza City
Current headRami Khalas

The Khalas clan or Helles clan (Arabic : عشيرة الخلاص, romanized: ʻAshīrat al-Khalāṣ) is a Palestinian clan in the Gaza Strip led by Rami Khalas, a Fatah activist. [1] It is reportedly backed by Israel and has fought against Hamas during the Gaza war, though the clan itself denies these allegations.

History

The Khalas clan, which is active in the Shuja'iyya neighborhood of Gaza City, is affiliated with Fatah and has historically been hostile to Hamas. Confrontations between the clan and Hamas occurred after the latter seized control of the Gaza Strip in 2007. [2]

One of its notable members is Ahmad Khalas, a member of the Fatah Central Committee, who is also the representative of Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas in Gaza. It reportedly participated in the 2025 Shuja'iyya offensive against Hamas. [1] [3] [4] [5] However, the clan has denied any collaboration with Israel. [6]

Following the 10 October 2025 ceasefire in Gaza, Hamas forces attacked the clan, which retreated eastward alongside withdrawing Israeli forces. [7]

After the 10 October ceasefire, Rami Khalas founded the Popular Defense Forces formed by "rogue" members of the Khalas clan. [8]

References

  1. 1 2 "Israel arma a milicias vinculadas con Fatah que combatirán a Hamas en Gaza". www.bridgesforpeace.com (in Spanish). 2025-07-03. Retrieved 2025-07-12.
  2. ↑ "Almasirah:Report: Israel Arms Fatah-linked Gangs in Gaza to Fight Hamas". english.masirahtv.net. Retrieved 2025-07-12.
  3. ↑ Easter, Reagan (2025-07-03). "Israel Reportedly Arming Additional Anti-Hamas Clans in Gaza". FDD. Retrieved 2025-07-12.
  4. ↑ "Israel ayuda a dos milicias más en la Franja de Gaza". Radio JAI (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-07-12.
  5. ↑ Halabi, Einav (2025-07-03). "Israel arms Fatah-linked militias, combatting Hamas in Gaza". Ynetnews. Retrieved 2025-07-12.
  6. ↑ "Palestinian man denies leading new Gaza gang following Israeli report". Middle East Eye. 3 July 2025. Retrieved 2025-10-16.
  7. ↑ "Where Are the Armed Groups That Fought Hamas in Gaza Now?". Asharq al-Awsat. 16 October 2025. Retrieved 2025-10-16.
  8. ↑ Truzman, Ahmad Sharawi & Joe (2025-10-19). "Profiles of anti-Hamas militias in the Gaza Strip". FDD's Long War Journal. Retrieved 2025-10-25.
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