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Popular Forces
Also known asAnti-Terror Service
LeaderYasser Abu Shabab
Dates of operation2024–present
Allegiance Islamic State (alleged)[1]
Active regionsGaza Strip, Palestine
IdeologySalafi jihadism (alleged)
Size300 fighters
Allies Israel
 Palestinian Authority (alleged)[2]
Opponents Hamas
Battles and wars

The Popular Forces, also known as the Anti-Terror Service, is a Palestinian armed group in the Gaza Strip led by Yasser Abu Shabab and opposed to Hamas.[3][4]

The group, which has been described as a gang or militia,[5] is made up of approximately 300 men who operate in eastern Rafah.[6][5] It was accused of looting humanitarian aid in an attempt to counter Hamas.[5][7] The group is sponsored by Israel, and Israeli opposition leader Avigdor Lieberman has claimed that the Popular Forces is affiliated with the Islamic State.[8][9] Israeli support for the group was only revealed in June 2025, but the group has been active since at least late 2024.[10]

During the ongoing Gaza war, Abu Shabab has claimed that the Popular Forces has cleared Hamas forces out of eastern Rafah.[11] The group has allegedly looted humanitarian aid sent into Gaza.[12] Abu Shabab also claims his group is being backed by the Palestinian Authority.[13] The group stated that it will protect civilians from “the terror" of the "Hamas government” and from “aid thieves".[4]

History

[edit]

On December 2024, in an interview with The New York Times, Gazan transportation company owners, truck drivers and aid groups alleged that multiple gangs have participated in looting of their property. Many people accused 35-year old man, Yasser Abu Shabab, of being the mastermind behind the looting. Allegedly, Abu Shabab's gang runs much of the Nasr neighborhood in eastern Rafah, which was significantly damaged by the bombing from IDF. A truck driver who's truck was ambushed by gang members said that they told him Yasser Abu Shabab was their boss. Another Gazan said that he attempted to buy flour from Abu Shabab gang and seen gang's gunmen guarding warehouses containing stolen food from United Nations, he said one of the gunmen threatened him with a pistol.[14]

Yasser Abu Shahab would deny the allegations against him, although he admitted that his men, which were armed with AK rifles, raided about 50 aid trucks since the start of the Gaza War in 2023. He said that they are looting food so they can feed their families and neighbors, he also accused Hamas of stealing aid the most. He said that Hamas attacked his neighborhood on November 25, 2024, killing more than 20 people, including his brother.[14] Reportedly, Abu Shahab's group controls territory 1.5 km away from the border crossing and is made of escaped convicts. Multiple UN officials said that the looting could not happen without the help of Israeli military. One said “These guys are probably the only people in Gaza who can get 100 yards from an Israeli tank or Israeli soldiers without being shot”.[15]

On May 26, 2025, Abu Shabab, who was revealed to be a leader of a large clan in the city of Rafah, which was under full control of IDF, said that he is building up an army to secure aid deliveries into some parts of the Gaza Strip. He posted images of his armed men receiving and organising the traffic of aid trucks. Hamas would accuse Abu Shabab of looting international aid trucks and having connections with Israel. Abu Shabab denied of commiting any looting and said that he has never acted as an alternative to the Palestinian government or other institutions. Despite this, Hamas security official would call Abu Shabab a "tool used by the Israeli occupation to fragment the Palestinian internal front".[16] On May 30, Hamas uploaded a video of Abu Shabab's gunmen walking in a building before it was blown up. Hamas claimed that the group helped IDF to inspect buildings before they moved in.[7]

On June 2025, Abu Shabab released a video where he claimed that his group has taken control of eastern Rafah. He called on citizens of Rafah to return, promising them food, shelter, and protection in makeshift camps which were build under the watch of IDF. His fighters, which are mostly his relatives, were seen wearing uniforms with Palestinian flags and "counter-terrorism unit" patches. They were seen setting up tents, unloading supplies from trucks, and distributing food. He said that his militia's goal is to defend civilians against again "terrorism of Hamas" and "rampant looting of aid".[17][18] On the same month, Avigdor Lieberman, leader of Yisrael Beytenu party, said that Israel secretly supplies assault rifles and light weapons to gangs in Gaza to make Hamas weaker.[19] Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, would later admit that he is using armed gangs in Gaza against Hamas. He said that his government "activated powerful clans" in Gaza on the "advice of “security officials”. Associated Press would confirm that one of the groups sponsored by Israel is led by Abu Shabab.[20] Reportedly, Israel have supplied Abu Shabab's group with Kalashnikov rifles, some stolen from Hamas militants. The operation was approved by Benjamin Netanyahu himself.[7][21]

Abu Shabab's group is known to operate under the names "Popular Forces" and "Anti-Terrorism Unit", multiple Arabic sources have accused it of having radical ideological leanings. According to Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, the militia has gradually evolved from loosely organised criminal gang into a Salafi-jihadist group inspired by ISIS. It also said that the group only rebranded itself from "Anti Terrorism Unit" to "Popular Forces" on May 2025, possibly to hide its affiliations.[22][23] The group has 300 men, 50 of whom, were personally recruited by Abu Shahab. Other 250 men were recruited through the Palestinian Authority’s intelligence services.[7]

Notable incidents

[edit]
Main article: Kerem Shalom aid convoy looting

On November 16, 2024, Abu Shabab's group, with the help of IDF and other gangs, raided a convoy of 109 United Nations aid trucks, looting 98 of them. Reportedly, Abu Shabab was the mastermind behind the looting.[24][25] In an Interview with Sky News, Abu Shabab denied that his men were involved in looting or had any connections with Israel, stating: "We work to ensure that aid reaches our people safely, without interference or theft". One humanitarian official said that his claims were "comical".[26]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Who are the 'ISIS-linked, aid-stealing' Gaza militia supported by Israel?". The New Arab. 6 June 2025. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  2. ^ Halabi, Einav; Yehoshua, Yossi (2025-06-05). "Gaza militia leader Israel is arming to challenge Hamas: Who is Yasser Abu-Shabab?". Ynetnews. Retrieved 2025-06-07.
  3. ^ Lis, Jonathan (June 5, 2025). "Netanyahu Says Israel Fighting Hamas 'In Various Ways' Amid Claims It Armed ISIS-affiliated Gaza Militia". Haaretz.
  4. ^ a b Halabi, Einav; Yehoshua, Yossi (June 5, 2025). "Gaza militia leader Israel is arming to challenge Hamas: Who is Yasser Abu-Shabab?". Ynet News.
  5. ^ a b c Tondo, Lorenzo (June 5, 2025). "Israel accused of arming Palestinian gang who allegedly looted aid in Gaza". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077.
  6. ^ "TRT Global - Netanyahu admits Israel supporting anti-Hamas 'criminal gang' in Gaza". TRT Global. June 6, 2025.
  7. ^ a b c d Fabian, Emanuel; Yohanan, Nurit; Freiberg, Nava; Staff, ToI (June 5, 2025). "Israel providing guns to Gaza gang to bolster opposition to Hamas". The Times of Israel.
  8. ^ "Israel opposition leader says Netanyahu arming 'equivalent of Isis' gangs in Gaza". Middle East Eye. 5 June 2025. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  9. ^ "Israel arms 'criminal gangs' in Gaza: Ex-defense minister". Yeni Şafak. 5 June 2025. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  10. ^ "Netanyahu Says Israel Fighting Hamas 'In Various Ways' Amid Claims It Armed ISIS-affiliated Gaza Militia". Haaretz. 5 June 2025.
  11. ^ Eichner, Itamar; Halabi, Einav (2025-06-05). "Liberman accuses Netanyahu of arming ISIS-linked militias in Gaza; PM's office offers no denial". Ynetnews. Retrieved 2025-06-06.
  12. ^ Tondo, Lorenzo (2025-06-05). "Israel accused of arming Palestinian gang who allegedly looted aid in Gaza". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-06-06.
  13. ^ Halabi, Einav; Yehoshua, Yossi (2025-06-05). "Gaza militia leader Israel is arming to challenge Hamas: Who is Yasser Abu-Shabab?". Ynetnews. Retrieved 2025-06-06.
  14. ^ a b Rasgon, Adam; Boxerman, Aaron (December 23, 2024). "Organized Looting Throws Gaza Deeper Into Chaos". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331.
  15. ^ Tauschinski, Jana; Tapper, Malaika Kanaaneh (November 20, 2024). "How gangsters took over Gaza's aid routes". Financial Times.
  16. ^ Al-Mughrabi, Nidal; Al-Mughrabi, Nidal (May 26, 2025). "Hamas-led groups execute four for looting aid trucks amid some Gaza dissent". Reuters.
  17. ^ "Yasser Abu Shabab: Gaza's New Strongman Or Israel's Proxy?". NDTV. June 5, 2025.
  18. ^ i24NEWS (June 4, 2025). "Militia leader calls for East Rafah residents to come under his protection". i24NEWS.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  19. ^ "Did Israel covertly arm Gaza's ISIS-linked militia?". Israel Hayom. June 5, 2025.
  20. ^ "Netanyahu admits Israel backing 'criminal' groups, rivals of Hamas, in Gaza". Al Jazeera. June 5, 2025.
  21. ^ "Israel arming ISIL affiliated gang to loot aid in Gaza". MEHR News Agency. June 6, 2025.
  22. ^ "Who are the 'ISIS-linked, aid-stealing' Gaza militia supported by Israel?". The New Arab. June 6, 2025.
  23. ^ Al-Aila, Mahmoud (May 29, 2025). "Aid is a weapon of war... Reproducing Lapid's army in Gaza". Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.
  24. ^ Ibrahim, Sally (19 November 2024). "Gaza: Hamas security forces kill 20 aid looters 'linked to Israel, ISIS'". The New Arab. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  25. ^ "Israel army allows looting of aid convoys in Gaza". Middle East Monitor. 11 November 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  26. ^ Doak, Sam (May 29, 2025). "How the rollout of new Gaza aid system collapsed into chaos". Sky News.
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