Yasser Abu Shabab, leader of the Israeli-backed Popular Forces militia in eastern Rafah, is accused of orchestrating aid theft amid Israel’s covert strategy to weaken Hamas by arming rival Palestinian factions.

Yasser Abu Shabab, a Bedouin in his 30s, has become a prominent — and controversial — figure in Gaza’s southern Rafah region. Though his group denies receiving weapons from Israel, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that Israel had “activated” certain clans in Gaza opposed to Hamas to minimize IDF casualties and avoid full reoccupation.

Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Shlomo Brom, a former Israeli military strategist, said Israel is seeking alternatives to both Hamas and the Palestinian Authority. “They’re looking for other solutions,” he noted, calling such arrangements “dubious.”

Once jailed for possessing large quantities of drugs, Abu Shabab has emerged as Israel’s proxy in Gaza, particularly in the southern regions of Rafah and now Khan Younis. His rise, enabled by Israeli strategy to undermine Hamas by empowering local rivals, has drawn regional and international scrutiny.

Once jailed for possessing large quantities of drugs, Abu Shabab has emerged as Israel’s proxy in Gaza, particularly in the southern regions of Rafah and now Khan Younis. His rise, enabled by Israeli strategy to undermine Hamas by empowering local rivals, has drawn regional and international scrutiny.

Accusations of Looting and Armed Control

Truck drivers, Gazan business owners, and international aid officials have repeatedly accused Abu Shabab’s group of looting food aid convoys, particularly flour. UN official Georgios Petropoulos described him as “the self-styled power broker of east Rafah.”

Abu Shabab admitted in an interview that his armed men had seized several aid trucks, claiming the actions were necessary for survival. “We are taking trucks so we can eat,” he said, blaming Hamas for most of the thefts — an accusation the group denies.

According to informed sources;

Abu Shabab’s militia, reportedly known as the Popular Forces, includes around 300 fighters. His top operatives, Ghassan Dihaini and Saddam Zakkar, are responsible for recruitment and represent him in external meetings. They are said to be building a structured network to consolidate control in the region.

Operating Under So-called “Palestinian Legitimacy”

Calling itself the Popular Forces, the militia began posting images online in May showing members wielding assault rifles. Abu Shabab recently called on displaced Rafah residents to return, promising food and shelter, and claiming to operate under “Palestinian legitimacy” — a phrase often associated with the Palestinian Authority, which has yet to confirm or deny any affiliation.

The Popular Forces also claimed to have safely escorted 92 aid trucks, possibly in a bid to improve their reputation.

Hamas Response: Armed Raid in Rafah

In November 2024, Hamas raided Abu Shabab’s neighborhood, reportedly killing over 20 people, including his brother. While Hamas stated the operation targeted “gangs of thieves,” Abu Shabab accused the group of indiscriminate killings. He escaped the assault but remains a contested figure amid Gaza’s fragmented power landscape.