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Yasser Abu Shabab, a Bedouin man in his 30s, holds sway in eastern Rafah, an area close to a key border crossing between Israel and Gaza.
June 6, 2025Updated 10:20 a.m. ET
Yasser Abu Shabab is the leader of a Palestinian militia in southern Gaza that Israeli officials say they have armed as part of an effort to undermine Hamas. Mr. Abu Shabab, whose group has denied receiving weapons from Israel, is a Bedouin man in his 30s. He holds sway in eastern Rafah, an area close to a key border crossing between Israel and Gaza.
For months, Palestinians and international humanitarian officials have accused him of looting aid trucks that made their way to distribution sites across Gaza, where hunger has been widespread.
Here is a look at Mr. Abu Shabab.
Why is Israel working with Mr. Abu Shabab’s militia?
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel said on Thursday that the Israeli government “activated” clans in Gaza opposed to Hamas at the advice of security officials. “What’s bad about it?” he said. “It’s only good and it only saves the lives of Israel Defense Force soldiers.”
Mr. Abu Shabab’s group, the Popular Forces, is believed to comprise a relatively small number of members. It is unclear how many people are in its ranks, but it is much smaller than Hamas.
Israel’s engagement with Mr. Abu Shabab, Israeli analysts said, underscored Mr. Netanyahu’s vacillation on who should take over the future administration of Gaza.
