Popular Army – Northern Forces
The Popular Army – Northern Forces or People's Army – Northern Forces is an Israeli-backed anti-Hamas Palestinian militant group in the northern Gaza Strip that operates as part of the Popular Forces. It is led by Ashraf Al-Mansi.
Background
During the Gaza war, societal breakdown across the Gaza Strip caused by offensives by the Israel Defense Forces on Palestinian 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.History
2025
In October, the PANF held a military parade following the ceasefire on 10 October in northern Gaza. That same month, the PANF, its parent organization, and 2 other anti-Hamas militants reportedly thanked Donald Trump for the Gaza peace plan and ceasefire.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. However, this was denied by PANF in a video released on 14 October.
Territorial control and structure
On 14 October 2025, Ashraf Al-Mansi, the group's leader, released a video where he denied the alleged Hamas crackdown. Al-Mansi also proclaimed that PANF controls several areas in northern Gaza, and warned Hamas from entering their territory. Its flag featuring the logo of PANF, is displayed on its vehicles and facilities within its territory.The militia is led by the Gaza City resident Ashraf al-Mansi and is made up of around 40 fighters. Unlike the self-proclaimed "un-ideological" parent organization the Popular Forces, some sources have accused the PANF of being Islamist. One prominent PANF lieutenant, Abu Anas Zeidan, is a former Salafi jihadist who was part of the Islamic State before joining al-Mansi's group.