Ekad Reveals Structure of Abu Shabab Militia, Its Role in Gaza Displacement Plan
The militia, composed of convicted criminals and individuals with past ties to extremist networks, has reportedly operated with full coordination from the Israeli military while systematically looting humanitarian aid and enforcing displacement in southern Gaza.
The revelations emerge amid mounting outrage over a Wall Street Journal op-ed published under Abu Shabab's name, despite his documented illiteracy, criminal record, and history with drug trafficking and ISIS-linked networks.
Critics have accused the paper of providing a platform to a warlord aligned with Israeli occupation objectives during a deepening humanitarian catastrophe that has left over 120 Palestinians dead from famine, most of them children.
A Militia Built on Coordination
The group's leader, Yasser Abu Shabab, a Rafah native from the Tarabin tribe, was previously imprisoned in Gaza for arms and drug trafficking.
He escaped custody during early Israeli airstrikes that targeted police infrastructure and later resurfaced in May 2024 as head of an armed faction reportedly numbering between 100 and 300 fighters.
In a televised interview with Israel's KAN News on July 6, Abu Shabab openly declared 'war on Hamas' and confirmed direct coordination with the Israeli military.
He also claimed administrative backing from the Palestinian Authority (PA), signaling a calculated attempt to present himself as a post-Hamas governance figure.
According to Ekad's findings, the militia has seized the majority of aid entering Gaza in recent months. Between May and October 2024, Abu Shabab's forces reportedly intercepted 80 out of 100 aid convoys and killed at least four truck drivers, according to The Washington Post.
The militia also operates armed checkpoints near the Kerem Shalom crossing and is accused of setting up fortified aid distribution zones designed to funnel civilians into Israeli-controlled areas.
A Three-Tiered Militia Network
Ekad's investigation used satellite imagery, social media analysis, and video geolocation to map out the militia's internal hierarchy:
Top Tier: Led by Abu Shabab and his deputy Ghassan Al-Dhahini, a former PA security officer and fugitive with ties to ISIS-aligned Army of Islam. Al-Dhahini has appeared in videos firing weapons near Rafah's Al-Da'wah Mosque, close to key aid depots.
Second Tier: Includes armed enforcers like Bakr Al-Wakeely, Youssef Abu Nasser, and Saddam Abu Zakar, seen in tactical gear near aid trucks. Others such as Tarek Abu Hassan and Abu Hassan Al-Tarabini were recorded riding atop looted aid shipments with automatic weapons.
Third Tier: Field operatives such as Nimer, Kareem, Aboud Abu Al-Hussain, and the infamous Abu Anis documented themselves looting aid boxes and violently seizing shipments. Videos show them operating freely within Israeli-controlled corridors including the Philadelphia Axis and areas east of Rafah.
Israeli Military Backing and the 'Humanitarian Resettlement' Agenda
The group's operations are concentrated in zones under Israeli military control, particularly Al-Shawka, Al-Bayouk, and northern Rafah, where Israeli forces have established logistical dominance.
These are the same areas referenced by far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who suggested they could serve as a 'temporary concentration zone' for Palestinian civilians.
Ekad's analysis concludes that the Abu Shabab militia plays a key role in advancing Israel's broader displacement policy. By weaponizing humanitarian aid, the group controls civilian movement and redirects populations toward Israeli-administered zones under the guise of aid distribution.
'This is not a rogue group,' said a senior Ekad analyst. 'This is a structured proxy force, armed and deployed to enforce an occupation agenda masked in humanitarian terms.'
A senior official with UNRWA, Sam Rose, described the militia-dominated corridors as 'the valley of thieves,' underscoring the systematic nature of aid looting in areas of Israeli oversight.
Backlash and Warnings
Gaza's Ministry of Interior recently issued a 10-day ultimatum for Abu Shabab and his militia to surrender. The Joint Room of Palestinian Factions, representing all armed resistance groups in Gaza, publicly labeled him a traitor.
The condemnation prompted Ekad to launch its in-depth investigation, which has since been widely circulated among humanitarian and diplomatic circles.
Ekad's researchers confirmed the group's direct coordination with Israeli forces not only through interviews and op-eds, but also by verifying the geolocated presence of militia leaders at Israeli-supervised crossings and aid convoys.
Criminal Past and Extremist Ties
In addition to Abu Shabab's documented prison escape, multiple militia leaders have verifiable links to extremist and smuggling networks. Issam Al-Nabbahin, another high-ranking member, fought with ISIS in Sinai before fleeing back to Gaza. Though reportedly re-arrested, his current status remains unknown.
The investigation concludes that the group os a criminal militia operating with state-level coordination under the pretense of humanitarian service.
The Popular Forces, far from being a grassroots security effort, function as an Israeli-backed paramilitary unit with strategic aims: controlling aid, neutralizing Hamas rivals, and facilitating population displacement in southern Gaza.
Shortlink for this post: https://daysofpalestine.ps/?p=66084
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Days of Palestine
21 minutes ago
- Days of Palestine
IOF Storms Handala Aid Ship, Abducts 21 Activists on it
DaysofPal- The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) stormed 'Handala' ship, which is a part of the Freedom Flotilla, on Saturday evening as it neared the shores of the Gaza Strip to break the ongoing Israeli blockade. The raid came nearly two weeks after the ship set sail from the port of Syracuse, Italy. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition announced that the IOF assaulted the ship while it was still in international waters, calling the act a blatant violation of international law. Footage from onboard cameras showed the moment Israeli forces boarded the vessel and detained the activists, shortly before the livestream was cut off and contact was lost. The coalition confirmed that Israeli forces abducted all 21 activists on board and took them to an undisclosed location, raising serious concerns about their safety. Before the raid, the crew had issued a distress call after Israeli boats and drones approached the vessel. An emergency protocol was activated on board the 'Handala' amid fears of an imminent interception or attack. Earlier, communications with the ship had been lost on Thursday. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition later announced on Friday morning that contact had been re-established and that the ship was about 349 nautical miles from Gaza at that time, continuing its humanitarian mission. The Handala ship had departed from Syracuse, Italy, on July 13, and temporarily docked in Gallipoli on July 15 to address technical issues before resuming its voyage to Gaza on July 20. It was carrying 21 international activists aiming to deliver humanitarian aid to the besieged Palestinian enclave. This is not the first time Israel has targeted Freedom Flotilla ships. In May, an Israeli drone attacked the 'Al-Dameer' ship as it attempted to reach Gaza, damaging its hull and igniting a fire in its front section. In June, Israeli forces seized the 'Marianne' ship in international waters and arrested 12 international activists on board, who were later released under the condition that they not return to the mission. Such attempts came amid severe famine and genocide the IOF are carrying out against Palestinian civilians in the Gaza strip which killed over 59 thousand people and injured over 150 thousands others. Shortlink for this post:
Days of Palestine
21 minutes ago
- Days of Palestine
UNRWA Chief Warns Airdropped Aid in Gaza Risks Civilian Lives
DaysofPal- The head of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, has sharply criticized the use of airdropped humanitarian aid in Gaza, warning that such efforts are not only ineffective but could endanger the very civilians they aim to help. Lazzarini described airdrops as a 'distraction and smokescreen,' emphasizing that they are costly, inefficient, and may result in injuries or deaths among starving Palestinians gathering to collect supplies. He urged the immediate reopening of land-based crossings to allow for faster, safer, and more dignified delivery of aid. 'Thousands of trucks loaded with vital supplies remain stuck in neighboring countries, awaiting Israeli authorization to enter Gaza,' Lazzarini said. 'Until the borders are opened, airdrops alone cannot meet the urgent needs of over two million people facing severe famine.' He added. The UNRWA chief's warnings come amid mounting evidence of a worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Since the outbreak of Israeli genocide in October 2023, more than 120 Palestinians, including many children, have reportedly died from starvation and malnutrition, with numbers rising sharply this month. Moreover, international aid agencies continue to call for a lifting of the blockade to enable sustained and effective aid delivery on the ground. Lazzarini stressed that only through safe land access can the deepening hunger and suffering in Gaza be meaningfully addressed. As the crisis intensifies, the call to end the siege and allow humanitarian corridors remains critical to saving lives and restoring hope for millions in Gaza, who have been suffering famine and genocide at the hands of the Israeli occupation forces for 22 months so far. Shortlink for this post:
Days of Palestine
a day ago
- Days of Palestine
Ekad Reveals Structure of Abu Shabab Militia, Its Role in Gaza Displacement Plan
DayofPal– A new investigation by open-source intelligence group Ekad has exposed the internal structure, operations, and foreign backing of the so-called 'Popular Forces' militia, led by Yasser Abu Shabab in Gaza. The militia, composed of convicted criminals and individuals with past ties to extremist networks, has reportedly operated with full coordination from the Israeli military while systematically looting humanitarian aid and enforcing displacement in southern Gaza. The revelations emerge amid mounting outrage over a Wall Street Journal op-ed published under Abu Shabab's name, despite his documented illiteracy, criminal record, and history with drug trafficking and ISIS-linked networks. Critics have accused the paper of providing a platform to a warlord aligned with Israeli occupation objectives during a deepening humanitarian catastrophe that has left over 120 Palestinians dead from famine, most of them children. A Militia Built on Coordination The group's leader, Yasser Abu Shabab, a Rafah native from the Tarabin tribe, was previously imprisoned in Gaza for arms and drug trafficking. He escaped custody during early Israeli airstrikes that targeted police infrastructure and later resurfaced in May 2024 as head of an armed faction reportedly numbering between 100 and 300 fighters. In a televised interview with Israel's KAN News on July 6, Abu Shabab openly declared 'war on Hamas' and confirmed direct coordination with the Israeli military. He also claimed administrative backing from the Palestinian Authority (PA), signaling a calculated attempt to present himself as a post-Hamas governance figure. According to Ekad's findings, the militia has seized the majority of aid entering Gaza in recent months. Between May and October 2024, Abu Shabab's forces reportedly intercepted 80 out of 100 aid convoys and killed at least four truck drivers, according to The Washington Post. The militia also operates armed checkpoints near the Kerem Shalom crossing and is accused of setting up fortified aid distribution zones designed to funnel civilians into Israeli-controlled areas. A Three-Tiered Militia Network Ekad's investigation used satellite imagery, social media analysis, and video geolocation to map out the militia's internal hierarchy: Top Tier: Led by Abu Shabab and his deputy Ghassan Al-Dhahini, a former PA security officer and fugitive with ties to ISIS-aligned Army of Islam. Al-Dhahini has appeared in videos firing weapons near Rafah's Al-Da'wah Mosque, close to key aid depots. Second Tier: Includes armed enforcers like Bakr Al-Wakeely, Youssef Abu Nasser, and Saddam Abu Zakar, seen in tactical gear near aid trucks. Others such as Tarek Abu Hassan and Abu Hassan Al-Tarabini were recorded riding atop looted aid shipments with automatic weapons. Third Tier: Field operatives such as Nimer, Kareem, Aboud Abu Al-Hussain, and the infamous Abu Anis documented themselves looting aid boxes and violently seizing shipments. Videos show them operating freely within Israeli-controlled corridors including the Philadelphia Axis and areas east of Rafah. Israeli Military Backing and the 'Humanitarian Resettlement' Agenda The group's operations are concentrated in zones under Israeli military control, particularly Al-Shawka, Al-Bayouk, and northern Rafah, where Israeli forces have established logistical dominance. These are the same areas referenced by far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who suggested they could serve as a 'temporary concentration zone' for Palestinian civilians. Ekad's analysis concludes that the Abu Shabab militia plays a key role in advancing Israel's broader displacement policy. By weaponizing humanitarian aid, the group controls civilian movement and redirects populations toward Israeli-administered zones under the guise of aid distribution. 'This is not a rogue group,' said a senior Ekad analyst. 'This is a structured proxy force, armed and deployed to enforce an occupation agenda masked in humanitarian terms.' A senior official with UNRWA, Sam Rose, described the militia-dominated corridors as 'the valley of thieves,' underscoring the systematic nature of aid looting in areas of Israeli oversight. Backlash and Warnings Gaza's Ministry of Interior recently issued a 10-day ultimatum for Abu Shabab and his militia to surrender. The Joint Room of Palestinian Factions, representing all armed resistance groups in Gaza, publicly labeled him a traitor. The condemnation prompted Ekad to launch its in-depth investigation, which has since been widely circulated among humanitarian and diplomatic circles. Ekad's researchers confirmed the group's direct coordination with Israeli forces not only through interviews and op-eds, but also by verifying the geolocated presence of militia leaders at Israeli-supervised crossings and aid convoys. Criminal Past and Extremist Ties In addition to Abu Shabab's documented prison escape, multiple militia leaders have verifiable links to extremist and smuggling networks. Issam Al-Nabbahin, another high-ranking member, fought with ISIS in Sinai before fleeing back to Gaza. Though reportedly re-arrested, his current status remains unknown. The investigation concludes that the group os a criminal militia operating with state-level coordination under the pretense of humanitarian service. The Popular Forces, far from being a grassroots security effort, function as an Israeli-backed paramilitary unit with strategic aims: controlling aid, neutralizing Hamas rivals, and facilitating population displacement in southern Gaza. Shortlink for this post:
