ALBAWABA - Armed militias have played a major role during the last war between Hamas and Israel in the Gaza Strip, which started on October 7, 2023.
The first appearance of the Gaza's armed militias was in the period following the Israeli forces' invasion and entry into the city of Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip, in May 2024, during that time, a group formed by Yasser Abu Shabab and his deputy Ghassan Al-Dahini in the area east of the Rafah crossing, near the border with Egypt, appered and took the side of the Israeli army against Hamas.
According to Alaraby Al-Jadeed sources, the armed militias carried out special operations for the Israeli army throughout the months of the war of extermination, including the kidnapping of Dr. Marwan Al-Hams and his daughter, the nurse Tasnim, in two separate operations.
In addition, field sources told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that Yasser Abu Shabab's group was involved in operations to assassinate Hamas leaders, along with several Al-Qassam fighters in the Rafah area and the southern outskirts of Khan Yunis.
Furthermore, the Abu Shabab group is also accused of stealing aid entering through the Kerem Shalom crossing, south of the Gaza Strip, which contributed to the starvation campaign adopted by Israel to pressure Palestinians in Gaza.
What are the four armed militias in Gaza?
1. Yasser Abu Shabab's group, also known as "People's Army".
2. The "Anti-Terrorism Strike Force," founded by Hussam Al-Astal in August 2024.
3. Rami Halas' group carried out operations in the eastern Gaza City area in the Shujaiya and Tuffah neighborhoods
4. The last group is led by Ashraf Al-Mansi and was formed last September, and it works side by side with Yasser Abu Shabab's group in southern Rafah.
