Latest news with #IDF-controlled
NDTV
2 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Explained: What Is Abu Shabab Group Which Opposes Hamas In Gaza
New Delhi: In war-torn Gaza, where hunger, mistrust, and militia rule collide, one man has risen to claim control over a patch of territory, offering what he calls "safety and order". That man is Yasser Abu Shabab, a clan leader from Rafah who now leads a controversial militia allegedly under Israeli protection and in direct defiance of Hamas. Once a known figure in Gaza's criminal underworld, with alleged links to drug trafficking and extremist groups like Daesh, Abu Shabab has now rebranded himself as the commander of the ' Popular Forces ', a self-declared unit he says is protecting civilians and humanitarian aid from chaos and Hamas's grip. Clan To A Force Abu Shabab's transformation from clansman to armed leader has been swift and public. This week, he released a video message claiming his group, formally called al-Quwat el-Shabeyaa (Popular Forces), has taken control of eastern Rafah. He urged displaced civilians to return, promising food, shelter, and protection in makeshift camps erected under the watch of the Israeli military. His fighters, mostly relatives, are seen wearing uniforms bearing Palestinian flags and "counter-terrorism unit" patches. They are seen setting up tents, unloading flour from trucks, and distributing supplies, all within IDF-controlled zones. Abu Shabab insists his presence in Israeli-controlled zones is "not by choice, but out of necessity, to prevent the displacement plan." His militia's mission is to defend civilians against what he calls the "terrorism of the de facto government [Hamas]" and the rampant looting of aid. "We operate under Palestinian legitimacy," he said, suggesting ties with the Palestinian Authority (PA) in Ramallah, although the PA has remained silent on any affiliation. Claims Then Counterclaims With Gaza's humanitarian system in collapse, and Israeli aid blockades entering their 12th week, any semblance of structure attracts attention. Abu Shabab's supporters argue that his forces are simply stepping in where no one else will. Hamas recently executed four people for looting aid, according to a Reuters report, and his group claims it is preventing such thefts. But Hamas officials accuse him of the same, saying his men have intercepted aid near Kerem Shalom and Salah al-Din Street. A Hamas official dismissed Abu Shabab as "a tool used by the Israeli occupation to fragment the Palestinian internal front," while others call him an outright collaborator. Reports by Quds News and outlets like Haaretz and The Washington Post suggest that Abu Shabab's group operates under full Israeli military protection. Witnesses say they have seen his fighters looting convoys and demanding "protection money" from drivers, all while Israeli tanks watch without interference. In one reported incident, his men opened fire on an aid convoy 100 metres from an Israeli tank, with no response from the soldiers. Israeli airstrikes later killed six Palestinian officers who tried to prevent the looting. "The armed men beat the drivers and take all the food if they aren't paid [protection money]," a senior official in Gaza told Haaretz. Collaborator Or Protector? Abu Shabab's rise has created deep divisions within Palestinian society. To some, he represents a new form of localised order, a necessary force in an ungoverned space. Abu Shabab's Facebook page portrays him as a "grassroots leader who stood up against corruption and looting," and his supporters argue he is doing what Hamas failed to: protect the people and ensure aid gets where it is needed. This turns Yasser Abu Shabab from a local strongman into a potential contender for power in southern Gaza, directly challenging Hamas's long-standing grip. For Israel, he could be the kind of local leader they have been hoping for: someone who can take control of an area, at least for now, while the war continues and Hamas is pushed back. To others, he is a traitor, the face of a dangerous new model: a Palestinian leader backed not by popular will but by foreign military power. They see Abu Shabab and his men as collaborators working with the Israeli army, not as protectors of their people. Because of this, most Palestinians do not trust him or accept him as a real alternative to Hamas, regardless of the latter's authoritarianism or failures. But without legitimacy from Gaza's population, his hold on power remains shaky at best. The 'Awakening Councils' Parallel Some observers draw comparisons between Abu Shabab's Popular Forces and the 'Awakening Councils' in Iraq - tribal militias funded by the US to defeat al-Qaeda in the mid-2000s. Those groups were effective in the short term but eventually disbanded or turned hostile once foreign troops withdrew. Others liken his rise to the South Lebanon Army, a Christian-led militia that collapsed after Israel pulled out of Lebanon in 2000, leaving its fighters to face backlash and exile.
Sky News AU
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Israel ‘cares much more' about Palestinian civilians than Hamas
Channel 13 News political correspondent Lior Kenan says the state of Israel 'cares much more' about the civilian population of Gaza than Hamas does. A joint statement issued by 23 foreign ministers around the world, including Penny Wong, has slammed Israel's plan to take control of Gaza and administer aid via IDF-controlled zones. 'We see Hamas using them as human shields, we see them launch missiles from hospitals and schools, we see them take over the humanitarian aid,' Ms Kenan told Sky News host Chris Kenny.
Sky News AU
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Israel ‘worried' about mounting international pressure over Gaza offensive
Channel 13 News political correspondent Lior Kenan says Israel is 'worried' about the international pressure mounting over the past few days regarding its military offensive in Gaza. A joint statement issued by 23 foreign ministers around the world, including Penny Wong, has slammed Israel's plan to take control of Gaza and administer aid via IDF-controlled zones. 'There is also the pressure from the United States and the Trump administration, which Israel greatly needs and wants its support in order to continue,' Ms Kenan told Sky News host Chris Kenny. 'Israel is at a crossroads now.'
News.com.au
20-05-2025
- Politics
- News.com.au
Australia condemns Israel's plan to administer aid in Gaza via IDF controlled zones
Australia is among 23 countries condemning Israel's pledge to 'take control' of Gaza and allow aid to flow in via IDF-controlled checkpoints after blocking humanitarian assistance into the war zone for months. Israel allowed five aid trucks into Gaza on Monday - the first since it started blocking shipments on March 2. Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday said his government was committed to preventing starvation conditions in Gaza, but wanted to ensure aid could not be 'looted' by Hamas. 'From the beginning of the war, we said that in order to complete the victory, defeat Hamas and free all our hostages … there is one necessary condition: we must not reach a state of starvation,' he said in a video message. 'We simply won't get support, we won't be able to complete the mission of victory. 'So we decided to provide minimal aid during the war and of course we advanced in this way and of course we discovered that Hamas was looting some of this aid. 'So, we stopped the humanitarian aid and together with our American friends we decided to do a different method. 'The method is distribution points that are secured by the IDF, preventing Hamas' access and allowing American companies to distribute the food and medicine aid to the population.' Mr Netanyahu said the new proposal would 'take time' but would eventually establish a humanitarian distribution zone free from Hamas. In a joint statement signed alongside the foreign ministers of major democratic nations, including the UK, Japan, Canada and Italy, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said she could not support the 'new model' and said humanitarian aid should not be subject to political or military conditions. 'Humanitarian principles matter for every conflict around the world and should be applied consistently in every war zone,' the statement reads. 'The UN has raised concerns that the proposed model cannot deliver aid effectively, at the speed and scale required. 'It places beneficiaries and aid workers at risk, undermines the role and independence of the UN and our trusted partners and links humanitarian aid to political and military objectives. 'Humanitarian aid should never be politicised and Palestinian territory must not be reduced nor subjected to any demographic change.' The ministers warned food, medicines and essential supplies are now 'exhausted' and Gazans were facing starvation. 'As humanitarian donors, we have two straightforward messages for the Government of Israel: allow a full resumption of aid into Gaza immediately and enable the UN and humanitarian organisations to work independently and impartially to save lives, reduce suffering and maintain dignity,' the statement reads. 'We remain committed to meeting the acute needs we see in Gaza. 'We also reiterate our firm message that Hamas must immediately release all remaining hostages and allow humanitarian assistance to be distributed without interference.' The statement ends with a call for an immediate return to a ceasefire and the implementation of a two-state solution. Hamas triggered the war after raiding Israel on October 7, 2023, slaughtering Jewish men, women and children and taking 240 people hostage.
West Australian
20-05-2025
- Politics
- West Australian
Australia condemns Israel's plan to administer aid in Gaza via IDF controlled zones
Australia is among 23 countries condemning Israel's pledge to 'take control' of Gaza and allow aid to flow in via IDF-controlled checkpoints after blocking humanitarian assistance into the war zone for months. Israel allowed five aid trucks into Gaza on Monday - the first since it started blocking shipments on March 2. Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday said his government was committed to preventing starvation conditions in Gaza, but wanted to ensure aid could not be 'looted' by Hamas. 'From the beginning of the war, we said that in order to complete the victory, defeat Hamas and free all our hostages … there is one necessary condition: we must not reach a state of starvation,' he said in a video message. 'We simply won't get support, we won't be able to complete the mission of victory. 'So we decided to provide minimal aid during the war and of course we advanced in this way and of course we discovered that Hamas was looting some of this aid. 'So, we stopped the humanitarian aid and together with our American friends we decided to do a different method. 'The method is distribution points that are secured by the IDF, preventing Hamas' access and allowing American companies to distribute the food and medicine aid to the population.' Mr Netanyahu said the new proposal would 'take time' but would eventually establish a humanitarian distribution zone free from Hamas. In a joint statement signed alongside the foreign ministers of major democratic nations, including the UK, Japan, Canada and Italy, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said she could not support the 'new model' and said humanitarian aid should not be subject to political or military conditions. 'Humanitarian principles matter for every conflict around the world and should be applied consistently in every war zone,' the statement reads. 'The UN has raised concerns that the proposed model cannot deliver aid effectively, at the speed and scale required. 'It places beneficiaries and aid workers at risk, undermines the role and independence of the UN and our trusted partners and links humanitarian aid to political and military objectives. 'Humanitarian aid should never be politicised and Palestinian territory must not be reduced nor subjected to any demographic change.' The ministers warned food, medicines and essential supplies are now 'exhausted' and Gazans were facing starvation. 'As humanitarian donors, we have two straightforward messages for the Government of Israel: allow a full resumption of aid into Gaza immediately and enable the UN and humanitarian organisations to work independently and impartially to save lives, reduce suffering and maintain dignity,' the statement reads. 'We remain committed to meeting the acute needs we see in Gaza. 'We also reiterate our firm message that Hamas must immediately release all remaining hostages and allow humanitarian assistance to be distributed without interference.' The statement ends with a call for an immediate return to a ceasefire and the implementation of a two-state solution. Hamas triggered the war after raiding Israel on October 7, 2023, slaughtering Jewish men, women and children and taking 240 people hostage. Israel responded with a furious bombing and military campaign that has led to the deaths of thousands of Palestinian civilians.
