From Gaza prisoner to ‘the Israeli agent’: how rise of Abu Shabab may ignite new section of warfare

[ad_1] O n 7 October 2023, Yasser abu Shabab was languishing in a Hamas-run jail in Gaza on expenses of drug trafficking. With the outbreak of the battle, the Palestinian from Rafah managed to depart jail, although the circumstances of his launch stay unclear to today.

For some time, Abu Shabab vanished from sight. That modified final week when Israeli defence officers acknowledged that they had begun arming a clan that calls itself the Anti-Terror Service. It consists of about 100 armed males who function in jap Rafah beneath the command of Abu Shabab, whose nickname is “the Israeli agent” and who's described as a “traitor” on social media within the territory.

The officers mentioned the Israel Protection Forces’ aim was “decreasing Israeli navy casualties” whereas systematically undermining Hamas. However critics have warned that the Israeli-backed felony gang may push Gaza to the brink of civil warfare.

Abu Shabab, 32, has emerged as a strong determine, exerting management over assist routes close to the strategically very important Kerem Shalom crossing, whereas members of his group are accused of looting vehicles carrying meals, and of getting ties to jihadist teams.

Final month Jonathan Whittall, the top of the United Nations Workplace for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in occupied Palestinian territories, mentioned: “Theft of assist for the reason that starting of the warfare has been carried out by felony gangs, under the watch of Israeli forces , and so they had been allowed to function in proximity to the Kerem Shalom crossing level into Gaza.”

When contacted by the Guardian, Whittall mentioned he was “referring to gangs akin to Abu Shabab”.

In a written interview with the Guardian, Abu Shabab blamed Hamas for the warfare in Gaza, defended himself from the accusations of looting and insisted his clan was offering safety to assist vehicles passing from the Kerem Shalom crossing into Gaza.

“My actions are humanitarian and it’s for my folks solely,” Abu Shabab mentioned. “We're offering safety in areas managed by our nationwide forces and offering assist to tons of of households, with tons of of individuals flocking to our areas day-after-day.”

Vehicles ready on the Kerem Shalom crossing between southern Israel and the Gaza Strip. {Photograph}: Jack Guez/AFP/Getty Photos Several videos circulating on social media in Gaza from his Fb profile, verified by the Guardian together with his associates, present members of Abu Shabab’s group working alongside Israeli troopers in IDF-controlled areas in southern Gaza.

Requested if his group was appearing in coordination with Israeli forces, Abu Shabab mentioned: “We don't work instantly with the Israeli military.”

The Occasions of Israel cited defence sources who mentioned Israel had supplied members of Abu Shabab’s faction with Kalashnikov assault rifles, together with some weapons seized from Hamas.

Since Israel eased its blockade on assist to Gaza, dozens of lorries carrying meals have been coming into the territory every day, crossing by way of Kerem Shalom and shifting in direction of Rafah, the place Abu Shabab has arrange a sequence of checkpoints.

A diplomatic official instructed CNN that the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), the brand new US-backed organisation tasked by Israel with distributing provides within the territory, had contact with Abu Shabab, “whether or not instantly or not directly”.

Requested if he had a collaboration with the GHF, which is distributing meals at three websites in Rafah, Abu Shabab declined to remark.

Reached by the Guardian, a spokesperson for GHF mentioned: “We offer our personal safety and should not have any native safety. Our vehicles have by no means been protected by Abu Shabab or anybody else.”

With out offering any proof supporting his claims, Abu Shabab – whose responses appeared contradictory and had been usually undermined by his earlier statements or by verifiable proof – blamed Hamas for looting vehicles carrying meals into Gaza.

“We don't take something from the help vehicles,” mentioned Abu Shabab, who didn't reply to calls or texts however corresponded by way of an electronic mail tackle supplied to worldwide information retailers and confirmed by his associates. “Support is stolen in areas managed by Hamas.”

Nonetheless, in an interview in November 2024 with the New York Times , Abu Shabab admitted that his males had raided half a dozen assist vehicles for the reason that begin of the warfare. “We're taking vehicles so we are able to eat, not so we are able to promote,” he instructed the paper, saying he was feeding his household.

Coverage of the war in Gaza is constrained by Israeli attacks on Palestinian journalists and a bar on international reporters entering the Gaza Strip to report independently on the war.

Israel has not allowed foreign reporters to enter Gaza since 7 October 2023, unless they are under Israeli military escort. Reporters who join these trips have no control over where they go, and other restrictions include a bar on speaking to Palestinians in Gaza.

Palestinian journalists and media workers inside Gaza have paid a heavy price for their work reporting on the war, with over 180 killed since the conflict began.

The committee to protect journalists has determined that at least 19 of them “were directly targeted by Israeli forces in killings which CPJ classifies as murders”.

Foreign reporters based in Israel filed a legal petition seeking access to Gaza, but it was rejected by the supreme court on security grounds. Private lobbying by diplomats and public appeals by <a href="https://pressgazette.co.uk/news/robert-peston-leads-jewish-journalists-call-for-media-access-into-gaza/#:~:text=The%20new%20open%20letter%2C%20shared,and%20listeners%20accurately%20and%20impartially%E2%80%9D.https://pressgazette.co.uk/news/robert-peston-leads-jewish-journalists-call-for-media-access-into-gaza/%23:~:text=The%20new%20open%20letter%2C%20shared,and%20listeners%20accurately%20and%20impartially%E2%80%9D.">prominent journalists and media outlets have been ignored by the Israeli government.

To ensure accurate reporting from Gaza given these restrictions, the Guardian works with trusted journalists on the ground; our visual teams verify photo and videos from third parties; and we use clearly sourced data from organisations that have a track record of providing accurate information in Gaza during past conflicts, or during other conflicts or humanitarian crises.

Emma Graham-Harrison, chief Middle East correspondent

","credit":""}"> Q&A Why is it so tough to report on Gaza? Present Protection of the warfare in Gaza is constrained by Israeli assaults on Palestinian journalists and a bar on worldwide reporters coming into the Gaza Strip to report independently on the warfare.

Israel has not allowed international reporters to enter Gaza since 7 October 2023, until they're beneath Israeli navy escort. Reporters who be a part of these journeys haven't any management over the place they go, and different restrictions embrace a bar on chatting with Palestinians in Gaza.

Palestinian journalists and media staff inside Gaza have paid a heavy worth for his or her work reporting on the warfare, with over 180 killed for the reason that battle started.

The committee to guard journalists has decided that at the least 19 of them “had been instantly focused by Israeli forces in killings which CPJ classifies as murders”.

Overseas reporters primarily based in Israel filed a legal petition in search of entry to Gaza, but it surely was rejected by the supreme courtroom on safety grounds. Personal lobbying by diplomats and public appeals by <a href="https://pressgazette.co.uk/news/robert-peston-leads-jewish-journalists-call-for-media-access-into-gaza/#:~:text=The%20new%20open%20letter%2C%20shared,and%20listeners%20accurately%20and%20impartially%E2%80%9D.https://pressgazette.co.uk/news/robert-peston-leads-jewish-journalists-call-for-media-access-into-gaza/%23:~:text=The%20new%20open%20letter%2C%20shared,and%20listeners%20accurately%20and%20impartially%E2%80%9D.">prominent journalists and media outlets have been ignored by the Israeli authorities.

To make sure correct reporting from Gaza given these restrictions, the Guardian works with trusted journalists on the bottom; our visible groups verify picture and movies from third events; and we use clearly sourced knowledge from organisations which have a observe document of offering correct info in Gaza throughout previous conflicts, or throughout different conflicts or humanitarian crises.

Emma Graham-Harrison, chief Center East correspondent

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Since Abu Shabab’s identify started showing within the media, Hamas has publicly declared it's intent on killing him. Abu Shabab has causes to detest Hamas. The militant group killed his brother final yr and has already tried to kill Abu Shabab at the least twice.

“The warfare won't finish so long as Hamas insists on its place,” Abu Shabab mentioned.

On Wednesday the Israeli information channel i24 reported that Israeli troopers clashed with Hamas members with a purpose to shield Abu Shabab from being killed, which resulted in deaths on either side.

Though the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, didn't identify Abu Shabab, he has admitted to having “activated” clans in Gaza that he says oppose Hamas.

Netanyahu’s feedback sparked a row in Israel, with opposition leaders accusing the government of transferring weapons to a gaggle of thugs and criminals “who determine with [Islamic State]”.

Abu Shabab’s hyperlinks with Israeli forces had been confirmed by his household, which issued an announcement final week formally disowning him. “We won't settle for Yasser’s return to the household. We have now no objection to these round him liquidating him instantly,” they mentioned.

The rise of Abu Shabab as the primary overtly acknowledged Palestinian collaborator with Israeli forces for the reason that begin of the Gaza warfare may, in accordance with many analysts, ignite a harmful new section of the battle.

Along with clashes with Hamas, his clan might quickly face violent confrontations with rival gangs and members of Gaza’s common committees, Israeli media report .

They are saying it's the type of atmosphere the place civil wars usually take root – and the place civilians, as soon as once more, are more likely to bear the heaviest price.