Leader of militia in Gaza fighting Hamas confirms cooperating with IDF

The head of a militia operating in an area of Gaza under Israeli military control, Yasser Abu Shabab, gives an interview to the Israeli public broadcaster’s Arabic-language radio station Makan, in which he says his fighters are young men of Palestinian origin living in the heart of the Strip, with no affiliation to any political ideology or organization.

The interview marks the first time the militia chief has given a live interview. In the past, he has provided voice recordings of himself reading statements and has given email interviews.

“We’ve tasted the bitterness and injustice inflicted on us by Hamas, and we’ve taken it upon ourselves to confront this aggression. We don’t rule out confrontation with Hamas and we don’t rule out civil war, no matter the cost,” he says.

In the interview, Abu Shabab confirms for the first time that his forces are cooperating at some level with the IDF.

“We didn’t have any security like we do in zones under Israeli control. We entered these areas and carried out operations beyond expectations. As long as the goal is support and assistance (from the IDF), and nothing more, when we go on a mission, we inform them — nothing beyond that — and we carry out the military operation,” he says.