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Abu Shabab

Members of the Popular Forces anti-Hamas militia are seen next to a tunnel entrance in the southern Gaza Strip, in a photo published by the group's leader on February 12, 2026. (Ghassan al-Duhaini on Facebook)
February 14, 2026, 7:39 pm
Anti-Hamas militia says it is destroying terror group’s tunnels in Gaza
Popular Forces leader al-Duhaini says militia ‘dismantling’ Hamas tunnels, confirms increasing Israeli support; troops kill Palestinian who crossed Gaza’s Yellow Line, IDF says
By Emanuel Fabian
Rotana al-Regeb, who was allowed into Gaza from Egypt following the long-awaited reopening of the Rafah Crossing, reunites with her children in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, February 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)
February 3, 2026, 9:47 pm
3 women returning to Gaza through Rafah say IDF bound, interrogated, threatened them
IDF says it knows of no incidents of inappropriate conduct; trio say they were taken to ‘humiliation room’ by troops, questioned about Hamas and Gaza events, pressured to act as informants
By AP
Yasser Abu Shabab (right) and members of his group in Gaza are seen in an undated video posted by the group. (screen capture: Facebook, used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)
December 4, 2025, 6:55 pm
Anti-Hamas militia leader Yasser Abu Shabab killed in ‘internal clash’ in Gaza
Separately, commander of Hamas’s East Rafah Battalion, his deputy, and two other terror operatives killed by Israeli forces on Sunday after emerging from tunnels in southern Gaza, IDF confirms
By Emanuel Fabian
Palestinian police march during a training session with members of the European Union, in the West Bank city of Ramallah, on March 16, 2014. (Abbas Momani / AFP)
December 2, 2025, 4:30 am
Egypt and EU stepping up preparations to dispatch Palestinian police force to Gaza
Diplomats push back at claim Hamas members to be part of new body, as Cairo trains thousands of recruits and Brussels looks to join effort, possibly influence postwar Strip
By Nava Freiberg
Members of the internal security forces loyal to the Palestinian terror group Hamas, man a checkpoint in the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, on October 12, 2025. (Eyad BABA / AFP)
October 21, 2025, 8:43 pm
Hamas claims to deal ‘severe blow’ to Gazan militia with ties to Israel
Terror group says it arrested members of Abu Shabab militia, seized its equipment in southern Gaza, as it seeks to reassert control over Strip
By Agencies and ToI Staff
Palestinians accused of collaboration with Israel are seen blindfolded moments before their execution by Hamas gunmen in a Gaza street, October 13, 2025 (Screenshot: X)
October 14, 2025, 9:09 am
Hamas said to kill over 30 Gazans, publicly execute 7, as it reasserts its grip on Strip
Footage appears to show Hamas executing ‘collaborators’ in city square; armed Hamas fighters return to streets as Trump says he gave group temporary green light to police Strip
By Agencies and ToI Staff
Hamas gunmen are seen launching an attack on a rival armed group in the Khan Younis area of southern Gaza, October 3, 2025. (Israel Defense Forces)
October 3, 2025, 4:53 pm
Israeli airstrikes thwart Hamas attack on rival armed Gazan group in Strip’s south
IDF: 20 terror operatives who raided ‘humanitarian zone’ killed in strikes, some used kids as human shields; armed group tells ToI it foiled attack with Israeli support
By Emanuel Fabian and Nurit Yohanan
Hossam al-Astal (center) is seen surrounded by armed members of his group, 'Strike Force Against Terror,' in an undated picture from the Gaza Strip posted on Facebook. (Courtesy: Hossam al-Astal via Facebook)
September 22, 2025, 6:23 am
In southern Gaza, new anti-Hamas enclave emerges under militia claiming Israeli backing
Working in apparent coordination with Abu Shabab, which also claims arms and other support from Israel, Hossam al-Astal says hundreds flocking to his base for food, power and escape from Hamas
By Nurit Yohanan
The school in eastern Rafah, run by the forces of Yasser Abu Shabab, August 10, 2025. (Screenshot: Facebook, clause 27a of the copyright law)
August 21, 2025, 9:51 pm
In IDF-controlled Rafah, an armed clan’s school plants seeds of a Hamas-free future
The Abu Shabab gang claims to have carved out an area where it is providing electricity, medical care and education for thousands of displaced Gazans under IDF protection
By Nurit Yohanan
Yasser Abu Shabab (right) and members of his group in Gaza are seen in an undated video posted by the group. (screen capture: Facebook, used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)
July 20, 2025, 8:22 pm
Head of anti-Hamas Gaza militia says it’s backed by vast tribal network, not by Israel
Yasser Abu Shabab tells British media he’s just an ordinary Palestinian trying to help his people, dreams of Strip being open to world, including Israel, after the war
By ToI Staff
Hamas gunmen at the expected handover of the bodies of four dead hostages, including Shiri Bibas and her two young children, in Khan Younis, south Gaza on February 20, 2025 (Saeed Mohammed/Flash90)
July 7, 2025, 2:40 pm
Senior Hamas commander says group’s control over Gaza has ‘completely collapsed’
BBC report quotes wounded Hamas officer as saying terror group struggling to pay salaries, has lost control of 80% of Gaza and has seen nearly all senior leadership figures killed
By ToI Staff, Emanuel Fabian and AFP
Armed Palestinians sit on trucks carrying humanitarian aid near the Zikim border crossing between Israel and Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, June 25, 2025. (Ali Qariqa/Flash90)
July 6, 2025, 1:43 pm
Cabinet approves plan to let more aid into northern Gaza over hardliner protests
Smotrich joins Ben Gvir in opposing expansion of UN-backed distribution, accuses IDF chief of failing to keep supplies out of Hamas’s hands, PM of letting army make its own decisions
By Lazar Berman and ToI Staff
A gunman from the Abu Ziyad clan, who appeared in a video in which the family demanded that Hamas hand over operatives responsible for killing one of its relatives. June 2025. (screen capture: Facebook, 27a clause of the copyright law)
July 2, 2025, 4:53 pm
Threats or nuisance? After years of cooperation, some Gaza clans rise up against Hamas
As the war drags on and aid supplies are increasingly precious, large, heavily armed clans in the southern Strip are openly defying the terror group. Could they be viable partners for Israel?
By Nurit Yohanan
People walking next to pictures of hostages held by terrorists in Gaza, in Jerusalem, July 2, 2025 (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
July 2, 2025, 2:28 pm
Responding to Trump, Hamas says Gaza deal must ‘clearly lead to complete end’ of war
PM stresses that goals of eliminating Hamas and freeing hostages ‘work together’; 14 said killed in strikes in Gaza; Hamas gives boss of clan armed by Israel 10 days to surrender
By Agencies, ToI Staff and Nurit Yohanan
Yasser Abu Shabab (right) and members of his group in Gaza are seen in an undated video posted by the group. (screen capture: Facebook, used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)
June 13, 2025, 9:54 am
Friday Focus with Lazar Berman: Has Israel finally launched a counterinsurgency in Gaza?
ToI’s diplomatic reporter on Israel’s arming of the southern Gaza criminal gang headed by Yasser Abu Shabab, a former drug smuggler turned humanitarian aid protector
By Amanda Borschel-Dan and Lazar Berman
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