Yasser Abu Shabab

Yasser Abu Shabab
ياسر ابو شباب
Undated photo of Abu Shabab
Born19 December 1993 (age 31)
Rafah, Gaza Strip
OrganizationPopular Forces
Known forArmed group leadership during the Rafah offensive
Criminal chargesDrug trafficking and theft
Criminal penaltyImprisonment
Criminal statusReleased in October 2023

Yasser Abu Shabab[a] (born 19 December 1993) is the leader of the Popular Forces, an anti-Hamas armed group in the Gaza Strip. He is a Bedouin of the Tarabin tribe.[1][2][3][4]

Abu Shabab emerged as a local opposition figure to Hamas during the Gaza war. In May 2024, his group began looting aid trucks, claiming he was providing security for humanitarian aid convoys entering Gaza during the Rafah offensive.[5][4] Abu Shabab was reportedly the mastermind behind the Kerem Shalom aid convoy looting.[6] Israel began providing Abu Shabab's group with weapons and equipment in 2025.[7] As of June 2025, he has reportedly seized control over eastern Rafah.[3]

Early life, smuggling, and prison

Abu Shabab was born in eastern Rafah in early 1990s. He is a member of the Tarabin Bedouin tribe, which has influence across the Sinai, Gaza Strip and southern Israel.[8][9] According to sources close to Abu Shabab, he dropped out of school at an early age and became involved in drug trafficking, including dealing in hashish and psychoactive drugs.[10] He had been involved in smuggling cigarettes and drugs from Egypt and Israel into the Gaza Strip through crossings and tunnels.[11] In 2015, he was arrested by Hamas on drug trafficking charges, he was sentenced to 25 years in Asda prison which was located in western Khan Younis.[8]

Looting and securing aid convoys

In October 2023, during the outbreak of the Gaza war, Abu Shabab managed to escape the prison as it was being bombed by Israel. The circumstances of his escape are unknown.[12][8] After his escape, Abu Shabab turned to looting as drug trafficking became no longer profitable due to the Gaza humanitarian crisis.[13]

During the ground maneuver in Gaza amidst the humanitarian crisis, Abu Shabab led a gang of around 100 members, mostly former officers from the Palestinian Authority Security Forces based in Ramallah. The group reportedly attacked food and supply trucks entering Gaza. Abu Shabab claimed the gang formed due to what he described as "Hamas leaving us with nothing, and their armed men shooting at us from time to time." In November 2024, Abu Shabab survived an assassination attempt by Hamas at the European Hospital in Khan Yunis as he managed to flee, though two of his associates were killed.[10] In January 2025, Hamas executed one of his senior aides.[14][15]

In May 2025, Abu Shabab and his men were reported to be securing aid convoys, including vehicles of the United Nations and the Red Cross. Hamas accused him of being a collaborator with Israel, claiming his group operated behind earth berms securing humanitarian entry routes under the U.S. humanitarian aid initiative. According to reports, his forces were escorting convoys from the Kerem Shalom crossing, armed with AK-47 rifles allegedly provided by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).[16][17][18] Hamas has accused Abu Shabab's group of working with the IDF to inspect buildings before Israeli troops moved in.[19]

Partial control over Rafah

In June 2025, Abu Shabab released a recorded statement claiming to operate "under the legitimate Palestinian authority," referring to the Palestinian Authority (PA). He stated his operations were coordinated with the PA and called on residents of eastern Rafah to return to their homes, promising shelter and food for returning families.[20] He further announced the establishment of a force intended to protect Palestinians from "the terror of the de facto government" (referring to Hamas) and from "aid looters." He claimed to have distributed aid and provided protection to hundreds of families in eastern Rafah.[20] Jonathan Whittall, the head of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said that gangs such as Abu Shabab's are responsible for "The real theft of aid since the beginning of the war" and that this is being done "under the watch of Israeli forces".[21]

On 5 June 2025, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that Israel had supplied weapons to Abu Shabab's group, which Abu Shabab promptly denied.[22][23] Avigdor Lieberman criticized the decision and alleged that Abu Shabab has ties to the Islamic State.[21] On 8 June 2025, it was reported that Israel had agreed to the group assuming a governing role as an alternative to Hamas.[24] Abu Shabab's family disowned him for "supporting the Zionist occupation forces" and said they "have no objection to those around him liquidating him immediately".[21] Hamas put Abu Shabab in their top targets for assassination, which led to them unsuccessfully trying to kill him two times.[25][26]

On 2 July 2025, the Hamas-run interior ministry of Gaza ordered Abu Shabab to surrender and face trial, charging him with treason.[26] The ministry said that the decision was made by a "Revolutionary Court" and that he has 10 days to surrender, the ultimatum stated that he is accused of “treason, collaborating with hostile entities, forming an armed gang, and insurrection". The ministry also called on Palestinians to inform Hamas militants about the whereabouts of Abu Shabab.[27][28] It added that he would be tried in absentia if he fails to surrender. The Popular Forces posted a response on Twitter, it said that the court's order is a “sitcom that doesn’t frighten" them and that it doesn't "frighten any free man who loves his homeland and its dignity”.[29]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Arabic: ياسر ابو شباب

References

  1. ^ Hasson, Nir (26 May 2025). "'Anti-terror Service': New Palestinian Militia Operating in South Gaza, Local Sources Say". Haaretz. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
  2. ^ Tondo, Lorenzo (5 June 2025). "Israel accused of arming Palestinian gang who allegedly looted aid in Gaza". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
  3. ^ a b Eichner, Itamar; Halabi, Einav (5 June 2025). "Liberman accuses Netanyahu of arming ISIS-linked militias in Gaza; PM's office offers no denial". Ynetnews. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
  4. ^ a b "Netanyahu Says Israel Fighting Hamas 'In Various Ways' Amid Claims It Armed ISIS-affiliated Gaza Militia". Haaretz. 5 June 2025.
  5. ^ Doak, Sam (29 May 2025). "How the rollout of new Gaza aid system collapsed into chaos". Sky News. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
  6. ^ Ibrahim, Sally (19 November 2024). "Gaza: Hamas security forces kill 20 aid looters 'linked to Israel, ISIS'". The New Arab.
  7. ^ Fabian, Emanuel (5 June 2025). "Sources confirm Israel arming Gazan gang to bolster opposition to Hamas". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
  8. ^ a b c "'Popular Forces': Who are the Gaza gangsters being armed by Israel?". Middle East Eye. 14 June 2025.
  9. ^ Zeidan, Adam (12 June 2025). "Who Is Yasser Abu Shabab?". Encyclopædia Britannica.
  10. ^ a b Halabi, Einav (8 June 2025). "Inside the Gaza militia armed by Israel: A history of terror, ISIS ties and attacks on IDF". Ynetnews. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
  11. ^ Frankel, Julia; Mednick, Sam; Magdy, Samy; Keath, Lee (7 June 2025). "Israel backs an anti-Hamas armed group known for looting aid in Gaza. Here's what we know". Associated Press. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  12. ^ "بقيادة "أبو شباب" وعناصر من أجهزة السلطة.. مرتزقة شرق رفح يحاولون تنفيذ مخططات الاحتلال" [Led by “Abu Shabab” and members of the Palestinian Authority. Mercenaries east of Rafah try to carry out the occupation's plans]. Shahed (in Arabic). 25 May 2025. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
  13. ^ "In Gaza, Israel promotes anti-Hamas militias linked to criminal networks". Le Monde. 8 June 2025. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
  14. ^ "משטרת חמאס הורגת חמישה פלסטינים שהואשמו בשיתוף פעולה עם ישראל בעזה" [Hamas police kill five Palestinians accused of collaborating with Israel in Gaza]. Aurora (in Hebrew). 24 January 2025. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
  15. ^ Rasgon, Adam (6 June 2025). "Who Leads the Israeli-backed Palestinian Militia in Gaza?". The New York Times. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  16. ^ "ياسر أبو شباب.. سرسري أسست له "إسرائيل" جيش لحد في غزة" [Yasser Abu Shabab ... an agent for whom Israel founded the Lahad Army in Gaza]. Palestinian Press Network (in Arabic). 24 May 2025. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
  17. ^ "متهم بسرقة غذاء نازحي غزة.. من هو ياسر أبو شباب؟" [Accused of stealing Gaza's aid – who is Yasser Abu Shabab?]. Al Mashhad Media (in Arabic). 20 November 2024. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
  18. ^ אוהביה, שרעבי (22 May 2025). "דיווחים ברצועה: האיש שחמאס ניסה לחסל - תועד חמוש בעזה" [Reports from the Strip: The man Hamas tried to eliminate was recorded armed in Gaza]. Arutz 7 (in Hebrew). Retrieved 4 June 2025.
  19. ^ Fabian, Emanuel; Yohanan, Nurit; Freiberg, Nava (5 June 2025). "Israel providing guns to Gaza gang to bolster opposition to Hamas". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
  20. ^ a b עומר, שחר (3 June 2025). "כוח חמוש בעזה טוען: "שולטים על אזור ברצועה ששחררנו מחמאס"" [An armed force in Gaza claims: "We control an area in the Gaza Strip that we liberated from Hamas"]. Kan 11 (in Hebrew). Retrieved 4 June 2025.
  21. ^ a b c Tondo, Lorenzo (6 June 2025). "Netanyahu defends arming Palestinian clans accused of ties with jihadist groups". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 June 2025.
  22. ^ Usher, Sebastian (5 June 2025). "Netanyahu confirms Israel arming clans opposed to Hamas in Gaza". BBC. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
  23. ^ "Gaza militia leader Abu Shabab: Haven't ruled out coordination with IDF on aid". The Jerusalem Post. 8 June 2025. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
  24. ^ "פרטים חדשים: כך ישראל מקדמת את השלטון הבא בעזה - וואלה חדשות". וואלה (in Hebrew). 8 June 2025. Retrieved 10 June 2025.
  25. ^ Janardahan, Vinod (11 June 2025). "Drug trafficker, traitor, gangster: What you didn't know about Yasser Abu Shabab, the anti-Hamas clan leader helping Israel in Gaza". World is One News.
  26. ^ a b "Hamas orders Gaza clan leader to surrender, accuses him of treason". Reuters. 2 July 2025.
  27. ^ "Hamas orders 'Israel-linked' Gaza gang leader to surrender". The New Arab. 3 July 2025. Archived from the original on 4 July 2025.
  28. ^ Haroni, Liran (2 July 2025). "Hamas: Gaza militia leader Abu Shabab must turn himself in". The Jerusalem Post.
  29. ^ "Hamas-run court gives Gaza gang leader Abu Shabab 10 days to surrender". Al-Jazeera. 2 July 2025 – via Yahoo News.
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