Members of the Abu Shabab militia can be seen in this image posted on the group’s Facebook page
Yasser Abu Shabab, head of the Popular Forces — a group lacking any genuine popular support — said his fighters move freely within areas under Israeli military control and inform Israeli forces of their planned operations in advance.
“We keep them informed, but we carry out the military actions on our own,” Abu Shabab told Makan, Israel’s Arabic-language public radio broadcaster.
He also acknowledged receiving “logistical and financial support from several parties,” though he stopped short of naming Israel directly. “There are things we can’t talk about publicly,” he added.
Last month, Israeli officials admitted to backing armed Palestinian groups opposed to Hamas in Gaza without naming them. Local media identified Abu Shabab’s militia as the recipient of this support.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the arrangement, saying, “It is only good, it is saving lives of Israeli soldiers.”
But former defence minister and Knesset member Avigdor Lieberman condemned the government for “giving weapons to a group of criminals and felons.”
The European Council on Foreign Relations describes Abu Shabab as the leader of a criminal gang in the Rafah region of southern Gaza suspected of looting aid trucks intended for civilians.
Abu Shabab ignored these allegations in his interview, insisting that his militia’s sole purpose is to defeat Hamas and offer an alternative governing authority in Gaza.
“We do not belong to any ideology or political organisation,” he said, adding that his aim was to eradicate Hamas’s “injustice” and “corruption.”
“We will continue to fight, no matter the bloodshed,” he added. “Right now, Hamas is dying. They know their end is near.”
Abu Shabab’s open collaboration with Israel has enraged Hamas, which has governed Gaza since 2007. On Wednesday, a Hamas military court ordered him to turn himself in within 10 days to face charges including treason.
On Sunday, a coalition of Palestinian clans condemned the Popular Forces for “shamelessly collaborating with the enemy.”
“They are rejected by all our people,” the coalition said in a statement.
“We will show no mercy to them or anyone who follows in their footsteps by aiding the occupation. They will be treated as they deserve to be: traitors and collaborators.”
*This story was edited by Ahram Online.
Short link: