Israeli-Armed Palestinian Militia Clashes with Hamas in Gaza, Raising Fears of Internal Conflict

 Tensions in Gaza have escalated following a series of deadly clashes between Hamas fighters and a Palestinian militia reportedly armed by Israel. According to multiple sources, the confrontation centers around a group led by Yasser Abu Shabab, a controversial figure with a history of criminal activity, who is now at the forefront of a volatile alliance with Israeli forces.

Reports from Israeli media outlets, including i24 News and Ynet, indicate that early Tuesday, heavy fighting broke out in Rafah between Hamas and the so-called Popular Forces, a faction operating under the banner of the Anti-Terror Service and loyal to Abu Shabab. The Israeli military is said to have intervened directly in the fighting, deploying drones and ground forces to protect Abu Shabab and his fighters—an unprecedented move described by analysts as a significant shift in Israel’s engagement within Gaza.

According to i24, an Israeli drone strike targeted four Hamas operatives in what is being described as the first Israeli airstrike in Gaza conducted solely to assist the Abu Shabab militia. The faction, which is reportedly tasked with securing humanitarian aid convoys from the Kerem Shalom crossing, claims to have lost over 50 members in recent months during confrontations with Hamas.

In a statement released to the press, the Popular Forces accused Hamas of targeting their volunteers and obstructing aid distribution. “Hamas has killed over 50 of our volunteers, including relatives of our leader, Yasser, as we guarded aid convoys and redistributed supplies otherwise destined for corrupt entities linked to Hamas,” the statement read. The group also claimed to have cleared explosive devices in the area, suffering casualties in the process.

The growing prominence of Abu Shabab’s militia, which is believed to consist of over 100 armed men operating in eastern Rafah, has stirred controversy and raised fears of internal fragmentation within Palestinian society. Abu Shabab, who was previously jailed by Hamas for drug trafficking and reportedly released under murky circumstances during the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, has been dubbed "the Israeli agent" on Palestinian social media. His ties to Israeli forces have drawn harsh criticism, with Hamas vowing to pursue him “sooner or later.”

“We will pursue the traitors no matter how long it takes,” Hamas said in a statement. “The occupation’s protection of him will not last.”

Israeli defense officials have acknowledged providing arms to Abu Shabab's militia in an effort to weaken Hamas’s grip on the Gaza Strip. However, humanitarian groups have voiced alarm over the group's alleged involvement in looting aid shipments, further complicating efforts to deliver relief to the besieged population.

Israeli analysts warn that this strategy—arming a known criminal faction to undermine Hamas—risks igniting a full-scale civil conflict within Gaza. The Israeli government's backing of such militias, they argue, could exacerbate instability and deepen the humanitarian crisis in the region.