Popular Forces

Popular Forces , also known as Anti-Terror Service , is a Palestinian anti-Hamas armed group active in the Gaza Strip and led by Yasser Abu Shabab . The Popular Forces are Israeli -backed and allegedly Islamic State (IS)-linked. The group, which has been described as a gang or militia, is made up of approximately 300 men who operate in eastern Rafah . 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. The Popular Forces were able to come to power in Rafah during the Gaza war amid the power vacuum left by a weakened Hamas. The Popular Forces control territory and aid routes near the Egypt–Gaza border , and have been accused of looting humanitarian aid entering the Gaza Strip, described by a United Nations official as "grand larceny ". The group maintains that it protects civilians from "the terror of the Hamas government " and denies large-scale looting. In June of 2025, the Popular Forces announced that they were helping to protect aid shipments sent to distribution sites run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), and aid truck drivers told CNN that Abu Shabab had furnished men to protect aid convoys. In the same month, the Popular Forces and the Israel Defense Forces were accused of shooting and killing multiple Gazans seeking aid at a GHF aid site. Israeli officials acknowledged sending weapons to the Popular Forces, as part of a program of arming and supporting anti-Hamas elements and clans in the Gaza Strip. However, Abu Shabab has denied any collaboration with Israel. Hamas, an unnamed Israeli security official, and Israeli opposition politicians such as Avigdor Lieberman , Yair Golan , and Yair Lapid have alleged that the Popular Forces is affiliated with IS, and have lambasted Israeli support of the group, Some of the prominent figures of the Popular Forces were identified as former IS militants who fought in the Sinai insurgency . A member of the European Council on Foreign Relations stated that majority of Abu Shabab's group consists of "convicted murderers, thieves, collaborators, drug dealers or members of ISIS [ISIL] in Sinai or in Gaza itself". Abu Shabab denied connections to IS, labeling the allegations as propaganda meant to sow hostility between Arabs and Israelis . Gautier Cruchaudet, Gaza : Netanyahou affirme avoir armé une milice opposée au Hamas , Le Figaro , 2025-06-07. The Jerusalem Post . 8 June 2025 . "מפת שליטה עדכנית של כוחות צה"ל ברצועת עזה - 09.06.2025" [Current control map of IDF forces in the Gaza Strip - 09.06.2025.]. "From Gaza prisoner to 'the Israeli agent': how rise of Abu Shabab could ignite new phase of war" . The New York Times . The Times of Israel . A new force emerges in southern Gaza" . "Israel confirms it is arming Hamas rivals in operation opposition calls 'complete madness' " . "Opponents say Netanyahu's decision to arm "clans in Gaza" to help fight Hamas will come back to haunt Israel" . "Gaza militia leader Shabab denies collaboration with Israel, demands Hamas resign" . i24NEWS . 8 June 2025. "Hamas takes aim at rival "outcast" group amid Gaza infighting" . There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or templates on this page, but the references will not show without a template or template (see the help page ).