Hamas safety officer says group has misplaced management over most of Gaza

[ad_1] Rushdi Abualouf Gaza correspondent

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/c13c/live/82b62040-58ee-11f0-852a-fb4f43c1b4cc.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/c13c/live/82b62040-58ee-11f0-852a-fb4f43c1b4cc.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/c13c/live/82b62040-58ee-11f0-852a-fb4f43c1b4cc.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/c13c/live/82b62040-58ee-11f0-852a-fb4f43c1b4cc.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/c13c/live/82b62040-58ee-11f0-852a-fb4f43c1b4cc.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/c13c/live/82b62040-58ee-11f0-852a-fb4f43c1b4cc.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/c13c/live/82b62040-58ee-11f0-852a-fb4f43c1b4cc.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/c13c/live/82b62040-58ee-11f0-852a-fb4f43c1b4cc.jpg.webp" loading="eager" alt="NurPhoto via Getty Images Displaced Palestinian children play inside a destroyed police car in a temporary camp within the site of the Arafat Police Academy, in the destroyed police camp affiliated with Hamas, in Gaza City (10 April 2025)" class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> NurPhoto through Getty Photographs A displaced little one performs inside a destroyed automobile on the Arafat Police Academy in Gaza Metropolis

A senior officer in Hamas's safety forces has informed the BBC the Palestinian armed group has misplaced about 80% of its management over the Gaza Strip and that armed clans are filling the void.

The lieutenant colonel mentioned Hamas's command and management system had collapsed as a consequence of months of Israeli strikes which have devastated the group's political, navy and safety management.

The officer was wounded within the first week of the struggle, which started after the Hamas-led assault on Israel on 7 October 2023, and has since stepped away from his duties for well being causes.

He shared a number of voice messages with the BBC on situation of anonymity.

Within the messages, the officer painted an image of Hamas's inside disintegration and the near-total collapse of safety throughout Gaza, which the group ruled earlier than the battle.

"Let's be life like right here - there's barely something left of the safety construction. Many of the management, about 95%, at the moment are lifeless... The lively figures have all been killed," he mentioned. "So actually, what's stopping Israel from persevering with this struggle?"

"Logically, it has to proceed till the tip. All of the circumstances are aligned: Israel has the higher hand, the world is silent, the Arab regimes are silent, legal gangs are all over the place, society is collapsing."

Final September, Israel's then-defence minister declared that "Hamas as a navy formation now not exists" and that it was engaged in guerrilla warfare.

In response to the officer, Hamas tried to regroup in the course of the 57-day ceasefire with Israel earlier this yr, reorganizing its political, navy, and safety councils.

However since Israel ended the truce in March, it has focused Hamas's remaining command buildings, leaving the group in disarray.

"Concerning the safety state of affairs, let me be clear: it has utterly collapsed. Completely gone. There isn't any management anyplace," he mentioned.

"Folks looted essentially the most highly effective Hamas safety equipment (Ansar), the complicated which Hamas used to rule Gaza.

"They looted all the things, the workplaces - mattresses, even zinc panels - and no-one intervened. No police, no safety."

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/0c9f/live/d9587120-58f1-11f0-852a-fb4f43c1b4cc.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/0c9f/live/d9587120-58f1-11f0-852a-fb4f43c1b4cc.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/0c9f/live/d9587120-58f1-11f0-852a-fb4f43c1b4cc.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/0c9f/live/d9587120-58f1-11f0-852a-fb4f43c1b4cc.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/0c9f/live/d9587120-58f1-11f0-852a-fb4f43c1b4cc.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/0c9f/live/d9587120-58f1-11f0-852a-fb4f43c1b4cc.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/0c9f/live/d9587120-58f1-11f0-852a-fb4f43c1b4cc.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/0c9f/live/d9587120-58f1-11f0-852a-fb4f43c1b4cc.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Anadolu via Getty Images Members of the Hamas-run Gaza police force stand next to destroyed buildings at the Arafat Police Academy, in Gaza City, during a ceasefire with Israel (22 January 2025)" class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> Anadolu through Getty Photographs Hamas-run safety forces went out in uniform throughout a ceasefire with Israel in January

The officer mentioned a consequence of the safety vacuum was gangs or armed clans have been "all over the place".

"They may cease you, kill you. Nobody would intervene. Anybody who tried to behave on their very own, like organising resistance in opposition to thieves, was bombed by Israel inside half an hour.

"So, the safety state of affairs is zero. Hamas's management is zero. There isn't any management, no command, no communication. Salaries are delayed, and once they do arrive, they're barely usable. Some die simply attempting to gather them. It is whole collapse."

On 26 June, not less than 18 individuals have been killed when an Israeli drone strike focused a plainclothes Hamas police unit making an attempt to say management over a market in Deir al-Balah, accusing distributors of worth gouging and promoting looted support, witnesses and medics mentioned.

The Israeli navy mentioned it struck "a number of armed terrorists" belonging to Hamas's Inside Safety Forces.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/1659/live/f2409410-58ec-11f0-9074-8989d8c97d87.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/1659/live/f2409410-58ec-11f0-9074-8989d8c97d87.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/1659/live/f2409410-58ec-11f0-9074-8989d8c97d87.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/1659/live/f2409410-58ec-11f0-9074-8989d8c97d87.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/1659/live/f2409410-58ec-11f0-9074-8989d8c97d87.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/1659/live/f2409410-58ec-11f0-9074-8989d8c97d87.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/1659/live/f2409410-58ec-11f0-9074-8989d8c97d87.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/1659/live/f2409410-58ec-11f0-9074-8989d8c97d87.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Reuters Palestinians mourn next to the bodies of people killed in an Israeli strike in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza, on 26 June 2025" class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> Reuters No less than 18 Palestinians have been reportedly killed in an Israeli strike that focused a Hamas-run police unit in Deir al-Balah on 26 June

On this vacuum, six armed teams affiliated with highly effective native clans have emerged as severe contenders to fill the void, in line with the officer.

These teams have entry to cash, weapons and males, and are lively throughout all of Gaza, however largely within the south.

Certainly one of them is led by Yasser Abu Shabab, a determine who has attracted consideration from the Palestinian Authority, which is predicated within the occupied West Financial institution and is a rival to Hamas, in addition to regional gamers - notably after Israel confirmed final month that it was supplying him with weapons.

The officer confirmed that Hamas had positioned a big bounty on Abu Shabab's head, fearing he may turn into a unifying determine for its many enemies.

"Hamas would ignore bizarre thieves. Individuals are hungry and [the fighters] do not wish to provoke extra chaos. However this man? If the Hamas fighters discover him, they could go after him as an alternative of Israeli tanks."

Sources in Gaza informed the BBC that Abu Shabab was working to co-ordinate with different armed teams to type a joint council aimed toward toppling Hamas.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/7e5b/live/322830b0-58f2-11f0-b5c5-012c5796682d.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/7e5b/live/322830b0-58f2-11f0-b5c5-012c5796682d.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/7e5b/live/322830b0-58f2-11f0-b5c5-012c5796682d.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/7e5b/live/322830b0-58f2-11f0-b5c5-012c5796682d.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/7e5b/live/322830b0-58f2-11f0-b5c5-012c5796682d.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/7e5b/live/322830b0-58f2-11f0-b5c5-012c5796682d.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/7e5b/live/322830b0-58f2-11f0-b5c5-012c5796682d.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/7e5b/live/322830b0-58f2-11f0-b5c5-012c5796682d.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Reuters Armed members of a local Palestinian clan sit on top of a UN aid convoy to protect it, near Beit Lahia, in northern Gaza (25 June 2025)" class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> Reuters Armed members of a neighborhood clan mentioned they accompanied a convoy of UN support lorries in northern Gaza to guard it from looting final month

A retired Palestinian safety official, who was a part of the pressure that cracked down on Hamas's navy wing in 1996 following a wave of bombings in Israel, mentioned Abu Shabab's community was gaining traction.

"Abu Shabab's group is like an orphaned little one who everybody will wish to undertake if he succeeds in undermining Hamas rule," mentioned the official, who now lives in Cairo.

"Publicly, all sides deny hyperlinks to the armed teams in Gaza. However Abu Shabab has met a senior Palestinian intelligence officer thrice and despatched messages of assurance to the Egyptians by kinfolk in Sinai," he claimed.

He additionally mentioned Abu Shabab "maintains good ties with Mohammad Dahlan's camp". Dahlan is a former Gaza safety chief who has lived in exile since he fell out with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas 15 years in the past.

The Hamas safety officer warned the group was "prepared to do something" to eradicate Abu Shabab not due to his present navy energy, however out of worry he may turn into an emblem round which all of Hamas's adversaries rally.

"For 17 years, Hamas made enemies all over the place. If somebody like Abu Shabab can rally these forces, that might be the start of the tip for us."

As Gaza is plunged additional into lawlessness, with total neighbourhoods descending into gang rule, Hamas finds itself not slightly below Israeli hearth however more and more surrounded by rivals from inside.