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Hamas–Popular Forces conflict
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The Hamas–Popular Forces conflict is an ongoing civil conflict in the Gaza Strip that began in September 2024. It involves clashes between the Hamas-led government in Gaza and the Popular Forces, a Palestinian militia backed by Israel and allegedly linked to the Islamic State (IS).
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Background
The Popular Forces is a Palestinian anti-Hamas armed group active in the Gaza Strip and led by Yasser Abu Shabab.[16] The Popular Forces are Israeli-backed and allegedly IS-linked.[17][18][19][20]
The group, which has been described as a gang or militia,[21] is made up of approximately 300 men who operate in eastern Rafah.[22][21] Israeli support for the Popular Forces was only revealed in June 2025, but the group has been active since the beginning of the Rafah offensive in May 2024.[23][24]
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2024
September
In September 2024, Hamas attempted to ambush and assasinate Abu Shabab by firing approximately 90 bullets at a vehicle they thought belonged to him. The vehicle actually belonged to Islam Hijazi, an aid worker of charity organization named Heal Palestine, she was killed in this incident.[25]
November
On 16 November 2024, Israeli-backed Popular Forces raided a convoy of 109 United Nations aid trucks and looted 98 of them. The raid occurred near Israeli military installations at the Kerem Shalom border crossing in the Gaza Strip.[26] The perpetrators, who according to a UN memo may have had "protection" from the IDF, threw grenades and held truck drivers at gunpoint, forcing them to unload their aid. The incident further exacerbated the Gaza humanitarian crisis caused by the war.[27][28][29] The incident has been described by the UNRWA as "one of the worst" incidents of its kind.[30]
On 18 November, a Hamas security unit reported they carried out a "military operation" against the looters in Khan Yunis and Rafah, killing at least 20 of the perpetrators.[31] Abu Shabab was not in the area at the time, but his brother was killed.[32]
2025
January
In January, Hamas executed one of Abu Shabab's senior aides.[33]
May
In May 2025, the Popular Forces were reported to be securing aid convoys, including vehicles of the United Nations and the Red Cross. Hamas accused Abu Shabab of being a collaborator with Israel, claiming his group operated behind earth berms securing humanitarian entry routes under an American humanitarian aid initiative. According to reports, his forces were escorting convoys from the Kerem Shalom crossing, armed with AK-47 rifles allegedly provided by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).[34][35][36] On 30 May, Hamas published a video which it claimed showed its members targeting undercover IDF soldiers with an IED. Per some Palestinian media reports, the men belonged to the Popular Forces.[37]
June
On 5 June, Israel revealed it has been backing the Popular Forces. The Israeli opposition legislator Avigdor Lieberman alleged that the Popular Forces is affiliated with IS.[38][39] In a video published by the militia, Abu Shabab claimed his group was in control of eastern Rafah after expelling Hamas forces, and had the backing of the Palestinian Authority.[39]
On June 9, 2025, Popular Forces gunmen together with the IDF were accused of opening fire at a crowd of Palestinians that were walking to an Israel-US supported aid distribution centre run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, killing approximately 6 people.[40] Other sources said that the gunfire killed 14 Palestinians and injured about 100 people. The Associated Press reported that Popular Forces opened fire at a group of men who tried to organize a crowd, causing nearby people to "push forward". One eyewitness said that it "was an ambush", adding: "The Israelis from one side and Abu Shabab from another". This incident was part of a broader series of shootings of Palestinians, which killed approximately 127 people.[41][42] That same day, Hamas forces ambushed a car transporting Issam Nabahin, capturing him. Nabahin is one of the three Popular Forces commanders, after his capture, Hamas would charge him with espionage and murder.[43][44]
Sometime during the second week of June, four Hamas fighters were killed in "the first Israeli strike on Gaza whose sole objective was to assist the Abu Shabab militia".[45]
On June 10, Popular Forces ambushed a special Hamas unit named Arrow Unit, which specializes in executing collaborators with Israel. Popular Forces claimed to have killed 5 Arrow unit members using anti-aircraft launchers.[46][47] On June 11, Gaza Humanitarian Foundation reported that a bus transporting its employees was ambushed by Hamas, killing approximately 5 aid workers, leaving others wounded or possibly taken hostage. Hamas would later accuse the victims of the attack of being members of Abu Shabab's militia. That same day, Popular Forces ambushed and killed 6 officers of Hamas' "Arrow Unit".[48][49] On that day, the Popular Forces reported that at least 50 of their militants were killed across armed clashes between them and Hamas.[49][45]
Reuters reported that as of 27 June the group was in control of eastern Rafah and has freedom of movement in the wider Rafah area.[50] Later that day, the Popular Forces seized control of the Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis after a gunbattle with Hamas forces.[51]
July
On 2 July, the Hamas-run Ministry of the Interior published a statement ordering the Popular Forces militia leader, Yasser Abu Shabab, to turn himself in and face trial on several charges including charges of treason and collaborating with hostile entities. The order warned that if Shabab did not surrender within 10 days, he would be considered a fugitive and tried in absentia. Popular forces responded in a statement questioning the legitimacy of the court and describing the order as "a sitcom that doesn't frighten us, nor does it frighten any free man with dignity who loves his homeland and its dignity".[52][53]
On 5 July, the Palestinian Joint Operations Room accused Yasser Abu Shabab of "operating to protect the occupation's interests"[54]
On 6 July, Abu Shabab admitted that the Popular Forces had Israeli backing, a month after Israel first revealed it was supporting the group.[55]
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