Yasser Abu Shabab Calls for International Protection in Case o...
Yasser Abu Shabab, leader of a militia operating in southern Gaza, has called for international protection in the event of a ceasefire agreement in the Strip.In a phone interview with The Sunday Times, published Saturday, Abu Shabab—who heads the so-called Popular Forces militia—denied accusations of collaborating with Israel and looting UN humanitarian aid entering Gaza via the Kerem Shalom crossing.Abu Shabab, who had previously been accused of drug trafficking and was imprisoned until the war on Gaza broke out in October 2023, warned that Hamas would exploit any ceasefire to target its political opponents. Along with his deputy, Ghassan Al-Dahini, he urged the international community to offer protection from potential reprisals.According to The Sunday Times, Al-Dahini said their militia is currently protecting themselves and the areas they control, but admitted they lack real support to engage militarily against Hamas. He appealed to the international community to assist them in what he described as the 'liberation of Gaza' from Hamas.The report highlighted that the militia operates in areas currently occupied by the Israeli army in southern Gaza, reinforcing widespread allegations that the group is receiving direct support from Israel.The article also cited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has defended support for such militias, though Israeli politician and head of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, Avigdor Lieberman, described their members as criminals.Earlier this month, the Joint Operations Room of the Palestinian Resistance Factions labeled Abu Shabab a 'traitorous mercenary', declaring that he and his followers are legitimate targets for all resistance factions.Abu Shabab's militia is reportedly stationed in eastern Rafah, under Israeli military protection, according to Al Jazeera.This development adds another layer of complexity to the volatile security and political dynamics in Gaza, as local factions, militias, and international actors maneuver amid efforts for a ceasefire and post-war arrangements.
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