Hamas is calling on Palestinians to focus on senior members of armed factions backed by Israel inside the Gaza Strip.

The group's internal security unit, known as the Rada Force, which handles suspected internal threats including alleged Israeli collaborators, declared that removing top figures from these so-called collaborator gangs is the way to break them apart.

"We tell all members of the collaborator gangs that killing their senior figures will save you before us and before your people," the Rada Force stated.

In efforts to suppress armed factions across the strip, the unit announced on Thursday that with help from locals it had detained a Palestinian tied to high-ranking militia collaborators and seized his weapons along with cash.

The force praised residents for showing national and moral duty, and it asked people in Gaza to report any odd activity or locations of individuals on the wanted list right away.

Hamas Accepts Handing Over Heavy Arms in Phase Two of Deal but Views Militias as Ongoing Risk

The push to assassinate militia leaders follows the release of a timeline to reach the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire.

Under the agreement Hamas says it consented to transfer its heavy weapons to a Palestinian technocratic committee that will run the Gaza Strip as part of the Board of Peace postwar plan.

While the deal meets Hamas's request to disband anti-Hamas armed groups and bars their members from joining new security forces, Gaza sources noted the group still fears their continued existence.

"Even without wide public backing the militias remain a risk to Hamas control," one Palestinian source told the Jerusalem Post. "Hamas aims to stop them from gaining more strength."

A second Gaza resident noted that the moves show Hamas feels uneasy and wants to cut off militia leaders from local support.

"Hamas seeks to damage their image among residents," he said. "They apply pressure by telling group members to switch sides and receive protection."

Gaza Security Officials Extend Amnesty Offers to Militia Members to Support Peace Progress

The Rada Force added in its statement that it grants forgiveness to militia members who turn away from their groups and rejoin Gaza society.

"We see the present moment as a key chance to end the collaborator gangs that have stained our people's history," the statement said.

"Even amid security challenges we focus on guiding those who were misled back from betrayal," it continued.

The force said it is processing family requests to handle cases of sons who joined the groups, mainly those who show regret and want to return to the correct path.

Three days earlier a Rada Force source reported that Hamas had dealt with 17 cases tied to collaborator militias.

"We stress that these militias were doomed from the start," the source said. "The occupation will not shield them and coming days will confirm this. We again urge all gang members to return to their people before time runs out."

These strong statements arrive during rising tensions between the sides.

In reply to Hamas's reported willingness to store weapons a leading militia figure in Gaza told the Post last weekend that he doubts Hamas will give up arms and believes the deal will fail.

Since Israel-backed armed groups formed in Gaza to fight Hamas after the October 7 attack that started the war, Hamas has worked to undermine them while clashes have occurred often.