Head of anti-Hamas militia in Gaza denies being backed by Israel, says support comes from vast tribal network

Yasser Abu Shabab, the leader of a Gazan militia operating in an area under Israeli military control, says in an interview with the UK’s Sunday Times that his group is not funded or armed by Israel, and insists that he is “just an ordinary Palestinian person who cares about his own people.”

Hamas has accused Abu Shabab of being a criminal, looter, and a traitor, and earlier this month demanded that he turn himself in to the terror group for prosecution.

“Hamas either accuses their [opponents] of being traitors working with Israel or being criminals. I am neither of these,” Shabab says. “I was an ordinary construction worker before the war. I have no military training. I am just an ordinary Palestinian person who cares about his own people.”

He adds that if a ceasefire is reached between Israel and Hamas, he and his group will need “international protection” from the terror group that rules Gaza, which he says will likely use the pause to crack down on internal dissent.

According to Abu Shabab, Hamas has killed 52 members of his family, including his brother.

He denies that he had direct involvement with Israel, and says his group was funded and armed by supporters within his tribal network. funding and arms came from support from his tribal network.

“I’m from the Tarabin family. We are a big tribe that extends not only to Gaza but also to Egypt, to Jordan, and even into some Gulf countries. Notable members of our family contributed money, and we used this money to buy products from the markets in Gaza and give it to needy people from our community,” he says.

“When I saw our people were suffering from the fact Hamas was stealing aid and was bringing this war with Israel upon the Gazans, leaving our people struggling and displaced, the idea sparked to create a safe zone for our people where we don’t fight,” he adds. “So my tribe and my family started to distribute aid to people who were in need.”

According to the Sunday Times report, the “most prominent wealthy member” of the Tarabins is Ibrahim al-Arjani, a Sinai-based Egyptian businessman who made millions from charging Palestinians fees for using the Rafah crossing to flee the war in Gaza.

When asked if his militia could manage the Rafah crossing after the war, Abu Shabab says, “of course.”

But “first we need to defeat terrorism,” he says, adding that his “ideal” for postwar Gaza is “one open to the world, to Egypt, Arab countries and Israel.”

“Many of my family members live in Israel in a good situation without any discrimination,” he says.