| People's Army Northern Forces | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Also known as | People's Army – Forces of Northern Gaza, Ashraf al-Mansi group |
| Leader | Ashraf al-Mansi |
| Dates of operation | 2025 – Present |
| Country |  Palestine |
| Allegiance | Popular Forces administration |
| Ideology | Islamism anti-Hamas |
| Size | ~40 |
| Allies |  Israel |
| Opponents |  Hamas |
| Battles and wars | |
| Flag | .png) |
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|---|
Administrative divisions |
Foreign relations |
ThePeople's Army Northern Forces (PANF)[1],People's Army – Forces of Northern Gaza[2] is an Israeli-backedanti-Hamas militant group of the Popular Forces inBeit Lahia andJabalia in the NorthernGaza Strip.[3][4]
During theGaza war, societal breakdown across theGaza Strip caused by offensives by theIsrael Defense Forces onPalestinian law enforcement institutions as well as starvation, famine, and lack of supplies created by the conflict has led to the rise of anti-Hamas armed groups in the Gaza Strip.[5][6]
In October, the PANF, its parents organization thePopular Forces and 2 otheranti-Hamas militants reportedly thanked Donald Trump for theGaza peace plan and ceasefire.[7]
In October, the PANF held a military parade following the ceasefire on 10 October in northern Gaza.[8]
After the 10 October ceasefire, Hamas allegedly redeployed members in Jabalia and the refugee camp, where they supposedly launched a crackdown on PANF, allegedly arresting and killing its members.[9] However, this was denied by PANF in a video released on 14 October.[10]
On 14 October 2025, al-Mansi released a video where he denied the alleged Hamas crackdown, al-Mansi then proclaimed that PANF controls several areas in northern Gaza, and warned Hamas from entering their territory.[10] Its flag featuring the logo of PANF, is displayed on its vehicles and facilities within its territory.[11]
The militia is led by theGaza City resident Ashraf al-Mansi and is made up of around 40 fighters.[12] Unlike the self-proclaimed "un-ideological" parent organization the Popular Forces[13], some sources have accused the PANF of being Islamist.[14][15]