Hamas has killed more than 50 members of a Palestinian militia armed by Israel in Gaza, escalating tensions within the enclave and drawing attention to covert Israeli strategies aimed at weakening Hamas from within.

Israeli-Backed Militants Under Fire

According to The Guardian, fierce clashes broke out in Rafah between Hamas fighters and members of the Anti-Terror Service, a militia led by Yasser Abu Shabab, a figure previously jailed for narcotics. Israeli forces reportedly stepped in, using airstrikes and ground troops to protect Abu Shabab and his men from being overrun.

The militia, which claims to provide security for aid convoys, said in a statement that “Hamas has killed over 50 of our volunteers,” including family members of its leader. The group also claimed to have ambushed members of Hamas’s “Arrow” unit, killing six.

Israeli Involvement Acknowledged

Israeli defense officials have confirmed support for the group, saying the goal is to “undermine Hamas.” A drone strike last week marked the first Israeli operation conducted solely to protect Abu Shabab’s militia, as per Israeli media reports.

The faction is deeply unpopular within Gaza, where its leader is dubbed “the Israeli agent.” Hamas vowed to eliminate him, declaring that “the occupation’s protection of him will not last.”

Origins of the Militia

Abu Shabab, who was in a Hamas prison on October 7, 2023, was released under unclear circumstances during the chaos of that day. Since then, he has built a force of over 100 fighters, operating primarily in eastern Rafah with Israeli backing.

Aid workers have accused the group of looting UN aid trucks, and its emergence has sparked fears of a deeper internal conflict in Gaza.