Gaza: emergence of a new militia that disputes Hamas control

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A Palestinian militia of 300 members was born in Gaza. Moreover, in order to release the Gaza Strip of Hamas – and she now claims to have the support of Israel.

The group. However, named the “popular forces”, operates in the east of Rafah under the direction of Yasser Abu Shabab, a Bedouin in his thirties who spent years in the jails of Hamas for criminal activities before being released on the sidelines of the attacks of October 7, 2023.

According to an exclusive declaration addressed to Euronews. For example, the Abu Shabab group – not to be confused with the Somali Islamist extremists, Al -Shabaab – was brought together for the first time in June 2024.

Popular forces. However, which also bear the name of “anti -terrorist service”, describe themselves as “Volunteers from the gaza: emergence new militia disputes people” protective Humanitarian aid of “Pillage, corruption and organized flight” by groups affiliated with Hamas.

“We are not professional fighters. Similarly, nor a militia, because we do not engage in guerrilla tactics”said the group in a statement sent to Euronews.

Cooperation with Israel – Gaza: emergence new militia disputes

Customary for force demonstrations against potential rival organizations. In addition, Hamas responded to the emergence of popular forces by killing several of its members.

“Hamas has killed more than 50 of our volunteers. Furthermore, including members of the family of Commander Yasser, while we have convoys of help”said Popular Forces spokesperson.

Previously, Hamas had firmly rejected the allegations of war and Humanitarian aid flightalso formulated against him by Israel. Nevertheless, At the same time, Yasser Abu Shabab himself revealed that his group “Coordinated” With the Israeli army in Rafah.

In an interview granted on Sunday on Israeli public radio in the Arabic Kan. Therefore, the leader of the popular forces said that his gaza: emergence new militia disputes group cooperated with Israel in matters of “Support and assistance”but not in terms of“Military actions”the latter, according to him, only led by his group.

Although the popular forces have since denied that Yasser Abu Shabab granted Kan’s interview after having wiped criticisms in Gaza. Nevertheless, this arrangement would be a new attempt by Israel to establish links with local partners likely to call into question the Gaza control by Hamas.

A broader coalition. Nevertheless, including the Palestinian Authority (AP), Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and the United States, would also be involved in the search for alternatives to the power of Hamas.

A “Double -edged weapon”according to Israel – Gaza: emergence new militia disputes

“These popular forces are a double -edged sword”told Euronews Fleur Hassan-Nahoum. Consequently, deputy mayor of Jerusalem and special envoy to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Therefore, “These are not pacifist democrats, but a gang that has enough of the greatest gangs, Hamas”.

Although she is wary of gaza: emergence new militia disputes Yasser Abu Shabab, Fleur Hassan-Nahoum also recognizes that Israel has not really choice. Therefore,

“There were two Gaza: the Gaza of Hamas […] and the second Gaza of the left-hand-left which was not controlled by Hamas “she believes. However, adding that some of these left-in-accounts simply have “Affected a break point”.

Ahmed al-Charaa. Therefore, in Syria, who has gone from the status of head of an organization affiliated with Al-Qaeda and a terrorist sought under the name of war by Abu Mohammad al-Julani to a legitimate political role As the country’s leadershows that this type of uprising can have its effects.

“In Syria, Al-Jolani also led a gang […] And now he goes up in grade. Furthermore, So we don’t know who could get out of these gangs “concludes Fleur Hassan-Nahoum.

Rami Abu Jamous, a journalist based in Gaza who worked for France 24 before creating Gazapress, does not agree at all. Meanwhile, gaza: emergence new militia disputes According to him. Similarly, Yasser Abu Shabab is not Ahmed al -Charaa – and in the context of the Gaza Strip, the claims of the militia leader must be considered with caution.

Although he strongly criticizes Hamas. Rami Abu Jamous does not consider the leader of popular forces as a viable or credible alternative.

“Imagine that Pablo Escobar becomes president of Colombia. This is exactly what it is: a drug trafficker who collaborates with an occupation army against his own people”Abou. Jamous told Euronews.

Yasser Abu Shabab has long been accused by members of his own family – one who has been part of his group – of having participated in smuggling of cigarettes. drugs from Egypt and Israel in the Gaza Strip through the crossing points and the tunnels before the war.

He was incarcerated for traffic on October 7, but was released with most other detainees when the war started in October gaza: emergence new militia disputes 2023.

While Shabab presents himself today as the leader of an increasingly numerous militia working in the interest of ordinary Palestinians. the journalist maintains that “We shouldn’t really call them a ‘force'”.

“These are a few dozen people belonging to a clan called Asalamu Alaykum. originally involved in the diversion of humanitarian aid”he explains.

“What he does now is propaganda – a bubble created for international consumption”estimates Rami Abou Jamous. The journalist recently won three prizes at the prestigious Bayeux Calvados-Normandie competition for his reports in Gaza.

Gaza: emergence new militia disputes

Retrospectively. we see that it was a huge error

Israeli army and intelligence veterans have expressed strong criticism of this strategy, which has had counterproductive consequences for Israel in the past.

Guy Aviad. former military historian of the Israeli army and expert in Hamas, recalls in particular the support provided by Israel to Christian militias in Lebanon, which turned against the Hebrew state and resulted gaza: emergence new militia disputes in 18 years of Israeli military engagement in the south of the country.

“We have helped them a lot against PLO in Lebanon. But they trained us in their own country”he told Euronews. describing the period from 1982 to 2000 as marked by “Many blood effusions in the Lebanon region”.

Then there was the tacit support of Israel to the Muslim Brotherhood of Gaza in the 1980s. intended to counter the Liberation Organization of Palestine (OLP) – whose militant wing carried out violent acts against the Army and Israeli civilians at the time – but which finally gave birth to Hamas itself.

“Israel thought at the time that the main opponent in the Gaza Strip was. of course, the PLO, and therefore tried to strengthen the Muslim Brotherhood”explain Guy Aviad. “But retrospectively, we see that it was a huge mistake”.

“I think the Israeli security and government do not know military history enough”he adds. gaza: emergence new militia disputes “But I think that the gang of Abu Shabab in the south of the Gaza Strip will not change the situation in the war between Israel. Hamas”.

Israeli intelligence evokes “A short -term tactical movement”

Michael Milshtein. former director of Palestinian affairs in Israeli intelligence services, is more direct. According to him. popular forces represent “One of our father clans Abou Shabab” who was “Involved in criminal cases, smuggling, theft, all negative aspects” before October 7, 2023.

“I am very critical of this policy and this movement”affirm-t-il to Euronews. “We do not know the basic DNA, the fundamental nature of such a gang. You know, they are thieves”.

“In other words, Israel is repeating the same mistakes”warns Michael Milshtein. “It seems to me that we have not learned anything from history”

For their part. some Israeli officials believe that the arrangement is necessary given the absence of effective authority alternatives in the Gaza Strip.

“Power holidays gaza: emergence new militia disputes are inevitably filled”says Fleur Hassan-Nahoum. “When a hole is created, someone comes to fill it. And that’s what’s going on”.

A former high -placed member of the anti -terrorist unit of Mossad. who spoke to Euronews under the guise of anonymity, recognized the criminal nature of the popular forces, but suggested that the support that Israel brought to them was of a pragmatic necessity.

“These are not people I consider a long -term alternative to Gaza”he said. “These are gangsters, but sometimes it is necessary to work with gangsters to overthrow Hamas”.

Intelligence sources that spoke in Euronews also described Israeli support as “A short -term tactical movement”with groups unable to serve. as “Substitute for a long -term strategic plan”.

Other groups manifest themselves to protect convoys of help

At the same time. the current humanitarian crisis, which exposed some 2 million Palestinians to a Critical risk of famineis becoming a political, ideological and armed gaza: emergence new militia disputes battlefield in Gaza.

In recent weeks. other self-organized groups unrelated to Hamas or Abu Shabab have come forward to try to ensure the armed protection of assistance deliveries in the Gaza Strip.

At the end of June. a group of influential residents of Gaza announced that it had launched an independent initiative aimed at protecting convoys of help against looting.

“We meet here to announce in a strong voice that the trucks arriving in Gaza. the besieged city, must reach families and people in need”said the national rally of tribes, clans and Palestinian families in a video declaration seen by Euronews.

However. these initiatives remain confined to pockets of the Gaza Strip and it is not certain that they can call into question the stranglehold of Hamas in the territory, according to experts.

The 300 fighters of the popular forces alone represent a fraction of the Gaza population. do not have the infrastructure necessary to gaza: emergence new militia disputes participate in its administration, in contrast to the solid and well -organized mechanism of Hamas.

“Hamas knows how to suppress popular uprisings or organizations trying to challenge it”explain Guy Aviad. “Hamas has a very sophisticated. very effective security device that knows how to find those who have collaborated with Israel”.

Can a real candidate arise?

The biggest challenge faced by the whole new group is to gain the support of the Palestinians. because Hamas controls Gaza since 2007.

“The majority of the population only know Hamas. More than half of the population of the Gaza Strip under 18”explain Guy Aviad. “The majority of the population was therefore educated by the Hamas system, that’s what she knows”.

The cooperation of Yasser Abu Shabab with Israel could therefore prove to be counterproductive for the popular forces. because the ravages of war between Israel and Hamas have strengthened the anti-Israeli feeling in the Gaza Strip.

“After a very. very gaza: emergence new militia disputes bloody war in Gaza, there is not a single person in Gaza who has not lost a family member or a friend”Observe Guy Aviad.

And in Gaza, the candidates are rare to succeed Hamas. The Israeli government has rejected the return of the Palestinian authority – which remains the recognized political representative of the occupied West Bank – in the Gaza Strip. while no credible alternative has emerged.

“There are two major blocks in Palestinian society: the secular block. led by Fatah or the Palestinian authority, and the religious block, led by Hamas and Islamic Jihad”CONCLUT GUY AVIAD. “There is no third alternative”.

At the same time. the influence of the Palestinian authority was questioned, after a group of sheikhs of the West Bank announced last weekend that he wanted to declare an emirate in Hebron and join the Abraham agreements of Israel, in what they say to be an attempt to finally gaza: emergence new militia disputes achieve peace in the region.