TNA Staff
The New Arab / June 9, 2025
Gaza militia leader Yasser al-Shabab denies Israeli ties amid claims of coordination and cooperation with Palestinian Authority.
Yasser al-Shabab, a controversial militia leader operating in Rafah, southern Gaza, has emerged as a central figure in a swirl of allegations involving covert coordination with Israeli forces, ties to the Palestinian Authority, and links to criminal and extremist networks.
Al-Shabab, also known as Yasser Abu Shabab, leads the “Popular Forces”, an armed group estimated to number between 100 and 300 fighters.
The militia is made up largely of former Hamas prisoners and members of the Tarabin Bedouin tribe in eastern Rafah, near a key crossing between Gaza and Israel.
Over the past several months, the group has positioned itself as a significant new player in Gaza’s fractured landscape, capitalising on growing internal dissent against Hamas.
In an interview with Israeli Army Radio, Al-Shabab was addressed reports that he was coordinating with the Israeli military and operating freely in Israeli-controlled areas of Gaza.
Israeli journalist Doron Kadush claimed that the group’s activities were enabled, or at least tolerated, by Israeli forces.
Al-Shabab has rejected these claims, insisting that his group does not collaborate with Israel.
“We do not work with Israel, but our goal is to protect Palestinians from Hamas,” he said, as reported by Arabi21. He added that his weapons were simple arms collected locally, not supplied by Israeli forces, and stated that any future coordination would be strictly humanitarian, conducted through mediators for the benefit of civilians in eastern Rafah.
He also described a working relationship with the Palestinian Authority (PA), particularly its intelligence apparatus. “Our relationship with the authority is based on the supreme national interest of the Palestinian people and within its legal legitimacy,” he said.
According to Al-Shabab, Palestinian intelligence officers conduct joint inspections with his militia to prevent hostile elements from infiltrating areas under their control. He maintained that his group receives no funding from the PA.
However, Al-Shabab’s denials have done little to dispel growing scepticism. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly acknowledged support for his group, describing it as part of a broader effort to undermine Hamas by arming rival clans.
According to reporting by Kan, Israel sees empowering such militias as a way to secure its forces in Gaza and fragment Hamas’s control.
Within Gaza, reactions to Al-Shabab are sharply divided. Some residents see him as a defiant figure resisting Hamas’s monopoly on power, while others view him as a criminal opportunist or even a collaborator. His group has reportedly provided protection for aid convoys in Rafah, drawing civilians seeking refuge, but also drawing criticism.
Both Hamas and humanitarian organisations have accused the militia of looting or diverting aid meant for Gaza’s civilian population.
Media reports, both Palestinian and Israeli, have painted a murky picture of Al-Shabab’s background, with past allegations of drug trafficking, smuggling, and links to IS-affiliates. While direct connections to jihadist groups remain disputed, his previous contacts with Egyptian extremist networks have been noted by regional observers.
Analysts have also pointed to video footage showing Al-Shabab’s presence in Israeli-controlled zones, interacting with international aid operations with apparent impunity. These images have deepened doubts about his claims of neutrality and humanitarian focus.
The PA, for its part, has confirmed that salaries are being paid to members of various armed groups in Gaza under the sponsorship of senior intelligence officials. It is unclear, however, whether Al-Shabab’s forces are among them.
Two additional militias, reportedly backed by Israel, the PA, and former Fatah leader Mohammed Dahlan, are expected to begin operations in northern and central Gaza, openly opposing Hamas’s control.
