Eastern Rafah and eastern Khan Yunis come underthe control of the Popular Forces;[6][7][8] the Ashraf al-Mansi group claims control over parts of northern Gaza as of 14 October 2025[9]
The group, which has been described as agang ormilitia,[23] is made up of approximately 300 men who operate in easternRafah[24][23] and easternKhan Yunis.[25] A semi-independent militia in the northern Gaza Strip, led byAshraf al-Mansi, also reportedly operates as part of the Popular Forces.[26] Israeli support for the Popular Forces was only revealed in June 2025, but the group has been active since the beginning of theRafah offensive in May 2024.[27]
Timeline
2024
May
The start of Israel's Rafah offensive in May 2024 marked the beginning of Popular Forces activity.[27]
September
In September 2024, Hamas attempted to ambush and assassinate 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 namedHeal Palestine, she was killed in this incident.[28]
November
On 16 November 2024, Israeli-backed Popular Forcesraided a convoy of 109United Nations aid trucks and looted 98 of them. The raid occurred near Israeli military installations at theKerem Shalom border crossing in the Gaza Strip.[29] 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 theGaza humanitarian crisis caused by the war.[30][31][32] The incident has been described by the UNRWA as "one of the worst" incidents of its kind.[33]
On 18 November, a Hamas security unit reported they carried out a "military operation" against the looters inKhan Yunis and Rafah, killing at least 20 of the perpetrators.[34] Abu Shabab was not in the area at the time, but his brother was killed.[35]
2025
January
In January, Hamas executed one of Abu Shabab's senior aides.[36]
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 earthberms securing humanitarian entry routes under an American humanitarian aid initiative. According to reports, his forces were escorting convoys from the Kerem Shalom crossing, armed withAK-47 rifles allegedly provided by theIsrael Defense Forces (IDF).[37][38][39] 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.[40]
June
On 5 June, Israel revealed it has been backing the Popular Forces. The Israeli opposition legislatorAvigdor Lieberman alleged that the Popular Forces is affiliated with IS.[41][42] In a video published by the militia, Abu Shabab claimed his group wasin control of eastern Rafah after expelling Hamas forces, and had the backing of the Palestinian Authority.[42]
On June 9, 2025, Popular Forces gunmen together with the IDF were accused ofopening fire at a crowd of Palestinians that were walking to an Israel-US supported aid distribution centre run by theGaza Humanitarian Foundation, killing approximately 6 people.[43] Other sources said that the gunfire killed 14 Palestinians and injured about 100 people. TheAssociated 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.[44][45] 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.[46][47]
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".[48]
On June 10, Popular Forces ambushed a special Hamas unit namedArrow Unit, which specializes in executing collaborators with Israel. Popular Forces claimed to have killed 5 Arrow Unit members using anti-aircraft launchers.[49][50] 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.[51][52] On that day, the Popular Forces reported that at least 50 of their militants were killed across armed clashes between them and Hamas.[52][48]
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.[53] Later that day, the Popular Forces seized control of theNasser Hospital in Khan Yunis after a gunbattle with Hamas forces.[54]
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 facetrial on several charges including charges oftreason andcollaborating with hostile entities. The order warned that if Shabab did not surrender within 10 days, he would be considered afugitive andtried 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".[55][56]
On 6 July, Abu Shabab admitted that the Popular Forces had Israeli backing, a month after Israel first revealed it was supporting the group.[58]
On 27 July, a new Hamas affiliated unit, the "Rad'a Force", executed six Popular Forces militants in Khan Yunis. The group denied any of its members had been attacked.[59][60]
August
TheCounter-Terrorism Strike Force (CSF), which is reportedly linked to the IDF and theShin Bet,[61] declared its formation on 21 August 2025, stating it aims to combat the "repression and terrorism practiced by Hamas". It is based in the village of Kizan al-Najjar, just south of Khan Yunis. The CSF and the Popular Forces are reportedly in contact with one another but work independently.[1]
September
On 21 September, a Palestinian official said that Hamas-led authorities have executed three men who allegedly had ties with Abu Shabab after they were accused of collaborating with Israel.[62] The execution took place on a street outside ofAl-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City.[63]
On 28 September, a Popular Forces operative was executed by Hamas forces.[64]
On 13 October, Hamas forces publicly executed Ahmad Zidan al-Tarabin, reportedly responsible for recruiting agents for the Popular Forces.[67]
On 14 October, the al-Mansi group released a video where he denied that a Hamas crackdown had taken place, announced that his group managed to take control of several areas in northern Gaza, and warned Hamas forces against approaching their territories.[9]
Popular Forces administration
Israel
Counter-Terrorism Strike Force[1]
ISIS (alleged links)
Hamas government
[11]
