| Shuja'iyya Popular Defense Forces | |
|---|---|
| Leaders | Rami Hilles Ahmed Jundeya |
| Dates of operation | 2025 – present |
| Split from |  Hilles clanJundeya clan |
| Country |  Palestine |
| Headquarters | Shuja'iyya,Gaza City |
| Active regions | EasternGaza City(includingShuja'iyya,Zaytun, andTuffah neighbourhoods)[1] |
| Ideology | Anti-Hamas |
| Allies |  IsraelPalestinian Authority (allegedly) |
| Opponents | |
| Wars | |
TheShuja'iyya Popular Defense Forces (Arabic:قوات الدفاع الشعبي للشجاعية,romanized: Quwwat al-Diffa al-Sha'bi lil-Shuja'yia)[3][4][5] is anIsraeli-backedanti-Hamasmilitant group in theGaza Strip led and founded by Rami Hilles and Ahmed Jundeya.[5][6] Operating within the Israeli-controlled side of theYellow Line, the group is based in theShuja'iyya neighborhood ofGaza City,[7] and is also active in the adjacentZeitoun andTuffah neighborhoods.[4] The group is composed of dozens of fighters primarily drawn from theHilles clan[3] and the Jundeya clan.[5]
The Shuja'iyya Popular Defense Forces was erroneously initially conflated with the entireHilles clan,[8][9] but is now known to be a "rogue faction" that has been disavowed by clan leadership.[3][4][1]
During the course of theGaza war, societal breakdown across theGaza Strip caused by offensives launched by theIsrael Defense Forces has caused: starvation, famine, lack of supplies and a weakerHamas created by the conflict has led to the rise ofanti-Hamas armed elements in the Gaza Strip.[10][11]
Rami Hilles is a former member of thePalestinian Authority'sSecurity Services, and is from theTel al-Hawa neighbourhood of Gaza City.[4] Like the rest of the Hilles clan, he is reportedly aligned withFatah.[4][12][13]
By July 2025, duringIsrael's offensive in Shuja'iyya, a group led by Rami Hilles was active and receiving Israeli protection and operational cover, thoughYnet misidentified it as the entireHilles clan and misidentified Rami Hilles as clan leader.[9][14] The clan later denied any collaboration with Israel.[15]
According to theMeir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center, citing Palestinian media, by September, the Shuja'iyya Popular Defense Forces was conducting surveillance, attacks, and abductions under the supervision of an Israeli intelligence officer.[12][16][17]
Clashes between Hamas and the Shuja'iyya Popular Defense Forces subsequently intensified.[4] Hamas forces attacked the SPDF group, which retreated eastward alongside withdrawing Israeli forces.[18]
On 4 January 2026, gunmen affiliated with the Shuja'iyya Popular Defense Forces moved into the Sanafour Junction in Al-Tuffah. As the gunmen entered Al-Tuffah, they were met with gunfire from Hamas and allied gunmen. The shootout lasted around 20 minutes and left 2 Hamas militants, before the SPDF retreated into the Israeli-controlled side of the "Yellow Line".[19]
Shuja'iyya Popular Defense Forces | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| Status | self-proclaimedrival administration under Israeli occupation[20] |
| Capital | Shuja'iyya,Gaza City |
| Government | |
• Leader | Rami Hilles and Ahmed Jundeya[20] |
| Establishment | Gaza war |
| History | |
• Established | 2025 |
| Population | |
• 2025 estimate | ~500 |
Within the Israeli-controlled side of theYellow Line, the SPDF is based in theShuja'iyya neighborhood ofGaza City,[21] and is also active in nearbyZeitoun andTuffah.[22] Leader of the SPDF, Rami Hilles claims to have 500 people within his territory as of November 2025.[21]
According to Rami Hilles, the group provides humanitarian services in Shuja'iyya and allegedly coordinates with thePalestinian Authority (PA).[23][21]
