Popular Forces administration in the Gaza Strip

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Popular Forces administration in the Gaza Strip
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Popular Forces influence.png
Areas of influence of the Popular Forces (including claimed territories of the Popular Army – Northern Forces and the Popular Army in Rafah)
StatusUnrecognized rival administration under Israeli military occupation
Capital Al-Bayuk, Rafah Governorate
Demonym Gazans [2]
Government
• Leader
Ghassan Duhine
Establishment Gaza war
• 26 June 2025
Claim of territory in eastern Rafah [3]
• October 2025
Claim of territory in northern Gaza
• November 2025
Spread into Khan Yunis under the Popular Army in Rafah [4]
Population
• 2025 estimate
~2,000 [5]
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. [5] [6] If true, this is the first area in Gaza not administrated by Hamas since 2007. [7]

Contents

More than 2,000 Palestinian civilians live in the Popular Forces' territory, according to the group's then-leader Yasser Abu Shabab. [5]

The group claims control of Al-Bayuk as its headquarters, [8] [9] eastern Rafah, [5] [7] [3] eastern Khan Yunis, [10] and humanitarian aid routes near the Kerem Shalom border crossing. [11] [12] It says it has freedom of movement in the wider Rafah area. [3] Furthermore, the Popular Army – Northern Forces, which reportedly operates as part of the Popular Forces, [13] [14] has claimed control over several areas in northern Gaza. [15]

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. [7]

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. [16] [17] 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. [3] By August, The Washington Post was describing the Popular Forces as "the de facto authority in southeastern Gaza". [5]

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. [7] [6] [18]

+972 Magazine claimed that shortly before his death, Abu Shabab was discussing a plan with current leader Ghassan Duhine to form a "transitional government of East Gaza", modeled loosely on Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces. [19]

In Khan Yunis

Shawqi Abu Nasira's group, the Popular Army in Rafah, which reportedly operates as part of the Popular Forces. [20] , is headquartered in Eastern Khan Yunis, though it operates in both Rafah and Khan Yunis. [21] [22] [23]

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. [8] [5]

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. [15] [24] Its flag featuring the logo of PANF, is displayed on its vehicles and facilities within its territory. [25]

Leaders and commanders

NameRoleStatusreferences
Yasser Abu Shabab Leader, until 4 December 2025Fugitive, killed on 4 December 2025 [26] [27] [28] [29] [30]
Ghassan Duhine Commander of the Popular Forces' armed wing the Counter-Terrorism Service, new leader of the Popular Forces after Yasser Abu Shabab's death.Wounded on 4 December 2025 [31] [32] [33]
Abu Awad Spokesperson [34]
Issam Nabahin Senior commander Fugitive [31] [35]
Ashraf al-Mansi Leader of the Popular Army – Northern Forces [36]
Ahmad Zidan al-Tarabin Responsible for recruiting militants Executed by Hamas [37]
Hassan Abu Shabab Commander and relative of Yasser Abu Shabab [31]
Shawqi Abu Nasira Leader of the Popular Army in Rafah [38] [39]
Abu Anas Zeidan Lieutenant in the Popular Army – Northern Forces [40]
Khaled Abu SanidaCheif of staff of the Counter-Terrorism Service [41]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Facebook Photo". Facebook. Retrieved 5 August 2025.
  2. ↑ Abu Shabab, Yasser (24 July 2025). "Gazans Are Finished with Hamas". The Wall Street Journal . Retrieved 26 July 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Battling to survive, Hamas faces defiant clans and doubts over Iran". Reuters. 2025-06-27. Retrieved 2025-07-29.
  4. ↑ "Shawqi Abu Nasira". European Council on Foreign Relations. 2025-11-25. Retrieved 2025-12-01.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "Yasser Abu Shabab claims captured Gazan land from Hamas". The Jerusalem Post. 2025-07-26.
  8. 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.
  9. ↑ "Gaza War Map".
  10. ↑ 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.
  11. ↑ "Champion of the people or a traitor? A new force emerges in southern Gaza". CNN. 2025-06-08. Retrieved 2025-10-13.
  12. ↑ "'Popular Forces': Who are the Gaza gangsters being armed by Israel?". Middle East Eye. 12 June 2025. Retrieved 2025-10-13.
  13. ↑ Matamis, Joaquin (2025-10-27). "Gaza's Armed Fragmentation: Clans, Militias, and Rival Power Centers • Stimson Center". Stimson Center. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
  14. ↑ "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.
  15. 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.
  16. ↑ 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.
  17. ↑ Fabian, Emanuel; Yohanan, Nurit; Freiberg, Nava (June 5, 2025). "Israel providing guns to Gaza gang to bolster opposition to Hamas". The Times of Israel .
  18. ↑ Abu Shabab, Yasser (24 July 2025). "Opinion | Gazans Are Finished With Hamas". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2025-07-31.
  19. ↑ Adler, Jonathan (2025-12-12). "Israel's Gaza proxy strategy is collapsing". +972 Magazine. Retrieved 2025-12-24.
  20. ↑ "Shawqi Abu Nasira". ECFR. 25 November 2025. Retrieved 4 December 2025.
  21. ↑ "Shawqi Abu Nasira". ECFR. 25 November 2025. Retrieved 4 December 2025.
  22. ↑ Staff, A. O. L. (2 December 2025). "Gaza militia leader forms rival force against Hamas, warns terrorists are regrouping amid ceasefire". www.aol.com. Retrieved 3 December 2025.
  23. ↑ "Shawqi Abu Nasira". ECFR. 25 November 2025. Retrieved 4 December 2025.
  24. ↑ 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.
  25. ↑ "Armed group labels Hamas 'terrorist,' warns against movements in northern Gaza". Türkiye Today. Retrieved 2025-10-22.
  26. ↑ Lappin, Yaakov (10 June 2025). "Israel's gambit: Empowering Gaza militia to help crush Hamas". JNS. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
  27. ↑ "Hamas orders Gaza clan leader to surrender, accuses him of treason". Reuters . 2 July 2025.
  28. ↑ "Hamas orders 'Israel-linked' Gaza gang leader to surrender". The New Arab . 3 July 2025. Archived from the original on 4 July 2025.
  29. ↑ Haroni, Liran (2 July 2025). "Hamas: Gaza militia leader Abu Shabab must turn himself in". The Jerusalem Post .
  30. ↑ "Hamas-run court gives Gaza gang leader Abu Shabab 10 days to surrender". Al Jazeera English . 2 July 2025. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
  31. 1 2 3 van der Merwe, Ben; Doak, Sam (4 October 2025). "Guns, cash and American aid: Investigation reveals Israel's support for Gaza militia". Sky News. Retrieved 3 December 2025.
  32. ↑ "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.
  33. ↑ Isaacson, Gila (2025-12-06). "Anti-Hamas Militia in Gaza Chooses New Leader After Yasser Abu Shabab Di". JFeed. Retrieved 2025-12-07.
  34. ↑ "Inside the Israel-backed militias, rival clans and Hamas factions battling for power in Gaza". AOL. 2025-10-21. Retrieved 2025-12-03.
  35. ↑ Halabi, Einav (2025-06-08). "Inside the Gaza militia armed by Israel: A history of terror, ISIS ties and attacks on IDF". Ynet. Retrieved 2025-12-03.
  36. ↑ Yohanan, Nurit (2025-10-12). "Hamas reappears on Gaza's streets, and two of three militias that fought it go quiet". The Times of Israel. ISSN   0040-7909 . Retrieved 2025-12-03.
  37. ↑ Halabi, Einav (2025-10-13). "Hours after hostage release, Hamas terrorists publicly execute rival militia members in Gaza". Ynet. Retrieved 2025-12-03.
  38. ↑ "New Gaza militia forms under Shawqi Abu Nasira". The Jerusalem Post. 2025-11-23. Retrieved 2025-12-03.
  39. ↑ Truzman, Joe (2025-12-06). "Anti-Hamas Popular Forces militia leader killed in Gaza". FDD's Long War Journal. Retrieved 2025-12-17.
  40. ↑ Adler, Jonathan (2025-12-12). "Israel's Gaza proxy strategy is collapsing". +972 Magazine. Retrieved 2025-12-24.
  41. ↑ "https://www.terrorism-info.org.il/en/spotlight-on-terrorism-and-the-israeli-palestinian-conflict-december-16-23-2025/".{{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
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