Popular Forces administration in the Gaza Strip

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Popular Forces administration in the Gaza Strip
Flag of Palestine.svg
Popular Forces influence.png
Areas of influence of the Popular Forces (including claimed territories of the Popular Army – Northern Forces)
StatusUnrecognized rival administration under Israeli military occupation
Capital Al-Bayuk, Rafah Governorate
Government
• Leader
Ghassan Duhine
Establishment Gaza war
• 26 June 2025
Claim of territory in eastern Rafah [2]
• October 2025
Claim of territory in northern Gaza
Population
• 2025 estimate
~2,000 [3]
Website
Yasser Abu Shabab - Popular Forces

During the Gaza war, the Popular Forces, an anti-Hamas, Israeli-backed, and allegedly Islamic State-linked armed group, has claimed control over large amounts of the Gaza Strip that are currently under Israeli military occupation. [3] [4] If true, this is the first area in Gaza not administrated by Hamas since 2007. [5]

Contents

More than 2,000 Palestinian civilians live in the Popular Forces' territory, according to the group's then-leader Yasser Abu Shabab. [3]

The group claims control of Al-Bayuk as its headquarters, [6] [7] eastern Rafah, [3] [5] [2] eastern Khan Yunis, [8] and humanitarian aid routes near the Kerem Shalom border crossing. [9] [10] It says it has freedom of movement in the wider Rafah area. [2] Furthermore, the Popular Army – Northern Forces, which reportedly operates as part of the Popular Forces, [11] [12] has claimed control over several areas in northern Gaza. [13]

Background

Before the war, the land presently administrated by the Popular Forces belonged to the Tarabin Bedouin tribe, of which Yasser Abu Shabab was a member. [5]

The last attempt at a large-scale armed revolt against the Hamas government in Gaza was in 2009, when Jund Ansar Allah, a Gazan Salafi jihadist group, engaged in clashes with Hamas forces after declaring the establishment of an Islamic emirate in Gaza.

History

In Southern Gaza

In late May 2025, the Rafah Governorate came under full Israeli operational control following its successful Rafah offensive against Hamas, in which the Popular Forces participated. [14] [15] As of 27 June, the group was reportedly in control of eastern Rafah, enjoyed freedom of movement in the wider Rafah area, and was working on building an independent administration. [2] By August, The Washington Post was describing the Popular Forces as "the de facto authority in southeastern Gaza". [3]

On 24 July, The Wall Street Journal published an opinion piece written by Abu Shabab, where he called on the United States and Arab countries to recognize the Popular Forces' administration. He also claimed armed patrols were providing security and that civilians in the area were enjoying a better quality of life, untouched by the humanitarian crisis elsewhere in Gaza. [5] [4] [16]

In November 2025, the Popular Forces voiced their support for the Gaza peace plan and their willingness to cooperate with the United Nations mandated Board of Peace established to oversee the administration and reconstruction of the Gaza Strip. [17]

Following the implementation of a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip on 10 October, the Popular Forces said that they welcomed the agreement, but would "continue to defend their lands" and had no intention of leaving the Gaza Strip. [18]

In November 2025 [19] , it was revealed that an allegedly Popular Forces affiliated militia led by Shawqi Abu Nasira in Eastern Khan Yunis was active. [20]

Following Yasser Abu Shabab's death, Ghassan Duhine proclaimed himself the new leader of the Popular Forces. [21]

Public services

After consolidation of Popular Forces control, Abu Shabab began launching a recruitment drive to staff “administrative and community committees,” including doctors and nurses, engineers, primary schoolteachers and public relations experts. The Popular Forces began setting up checkpoints in Israeli occupied territory to screen convoys of international aid workers entering Gaza, and claimed they were providing security to aid trucks. Abu Shabab also said that they have built schools, health centers and other civilian infrastructure, Sky News similarly reported that medical facilities, a school, and a mosque have been built by the Popular Forces. [6] [3]

In Northern Gaza

On 14 October, the Popular Army – Northern Forces claimed it had taken control of several areas in northern Gaza, and warned Hamas forces against approaching their territories. [13] [22] Its flag featuring the logo of PANF, is displayed on its vehicles and facilities within its territory. [23]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Facebook Photo". Facebook. Retrieved 5 August 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Battling to survive, Hamas faces defiant clans and doubts over Iran". Reuters. 2025-06-27. Retrieved 2025-07-29.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Israel's support for clans in Gaza puts tribal strongman in spotlight". The Washington Post. 2025-08-03. ISSN   0190-8286 . Retrieved 2025-08-03.
  4. 1 2 Ynetnews (2025-07-27). "In Gaza's Rafah, rebel commander claims war already over—and offers alternative to Hamas". Ynetnews. Retrieved 2025-07-29.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Yasser Abu Shabab claims captured Gazan land from Hamas". The Jerusalem Post. 2025-07-26.
  6. 1 2 Merwe, Ben van der; Doak, Sam; Data; Unit, Forensics. "Guns, cash and American aid: Investigation reveals Israel's support for Gaza militia". Sky News. Retrieved 2025-12-03.
  7. ↑ "Gaza War Map".
  8. ↑ Halabi, Einav (2025-10-12). "Gaza militia commander tells ynet: 'Hamas is weak — it's only a matter of time until it falls'". Ynetglobal. Retrieved 2025-10-13.
  9. ↑ "Champion of the people or a traitor? A new force emerges in southern Gaza". CNN. 2025-06-08. Retrieved 2025-10-13.
  10. ↑ "'Popular Forces': Who are the Gaza gangsters being armed by Israel?". Middle East Eye. 12 June 2025. Retrieved 2025-10-13.
  11. ↑ Matamis, Joaquin (2025-10-27). "Gaza's Armed Fragmentation: Clans, Militias, and Rival Power Centers • Stimson Center". Stimson Center. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
  12. ↑ "Hamas reappears on Gaza's streets, and two of three militias that fought it go quiet". The Times of Israel. 2025-10-12. ISSN   0040-7909.
  13. 1 2 Yohanan, Nurit (2025-10-14). "Militia commander in northern Gaza: We have taken control of areas, call on Hamas to stay away". The Times of Israel. ISSN   0040-7909 . Retrieved 2025-10-16.
  14. ↑ Eichner, Itamar; Halabi, Einav (2025-06-05). "Liberman accuses Netanyahu of arming ISIS-linked militias in Gaza; PM's office offers no denial". Ynetnews. Retrieved 2025-07-29.
  15. ↑ Fabian, Emanuel; Yohanan, Nurit; Freiberg, Nava (June 5, 2025). "Israel providing guns to Gaza gang to bolster opposition to Hamas". The Times of Israel .
  16. ↑ Abu Shabab, Yasser (24 July 2025). "Opinion | Gazans Are Finished With Hamas". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2025-07-31.
  17. ↑ https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgmgjx1jego
  18. ↑ "Anti-Hamas militia vows to stay in Rafah after ceasefire". The Jerusalem Post. 2025-10-10. Retrieved 2025-10-10.
  19. ↑ "New Gaza militia forms under Shawqi Abu Nasira". The Jerusalem Post. 2025-11-23. Retrieved 2025-12-01.
  20. ↑ "New Gaza militia forms under Shawqi Abu Nasira | The Jerusalem Post". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 2025-11-23. Retrieved 2025-12-03.
  21. ↑ "Ghassan Al-Duhaini to replace Shabab as Popular Forces head | The Jerusalem Post". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 2025-12-05. Retrieved 2025-12-05.
  22. ↑ Doak, Sam; Merwe, Ben van der; Data; Unit, Forensics; Alkhaldi, Celine; producer, Middle East. "Videos show fresh evidence of Israeli support for Gaza militia". Sky News. Retrieved 2025-11-11.
  23. ↑ "Armed group labels Hamas 'terrorist,' warns against movements in northern Gaza". Türkiye Today. Retrieved 2025-10-22.
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