Yasser Abu Shabab, the leader of a local Gaza militia backed by the Israeli occupation, declared that his group's goal is to "protect Palestinians from threats posed by Hamas," and emphasized his desire to expand its activities to other areas of the Gaza Strip, according to an interview he conducted with Israeli Army Radio on Sunday morning.
However, Abu Shabab denied any direct cooperation with the occupation, despite all indications to that effect, and called on Hamas to relinquish power in light of what he called "recent popular protests."
He stated that he works in cooperation with the Palestinian Authority, and claimed that hundreds of Palestinian families have moved to the area east of Rafah, where he claims to control it.
He stressed that "our relationship with the Authority is based on the supreme national interest of the Palestinian people and within the framework of its legal legitimacy."
He added, "We are conducting security checks through the Palestinian intelligence service, which is cooperating with us on this matter to ensure that Hamas elements do not infiltrate and could disrupt the liberation project from Hamas rule," he claimed.
Israeli reports revealed on Thursday military cooperation between Israel and an armed militia led by a Palestinian from the Gaza Strip named Yasser Abu Shabab, operating in the Rafah area in the southern Gaza Strip, with direct support from the Israeli military.
The Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation and Army Radio reported that the militia members were armed with weapons confiscated from Hamas by Israel as part of what it described as a "plan for the next day in Gaza," approved by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Israeli Army Radio quoted senior security sources as saying that "armed militias in the Gaza Strip are cooperating with Israel." The radio said that these militias are composed of "Palestinians from Gaza who are neither affiliated with Hamas nor Fatah, and are fighting against Hamas and helping secure aid distribution centers," referring to Yasser Abu Shabab's gang.
The Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (Kan 11) reported that Israel has been arming "local groups" in the Gaza Strip for weeks, describing them as "clans," under the pretext of confronting Hamas.
She added that this step comes as part of "an organized Israeli policy and efforts to confront Hamas."
According to Kan 11, "the operation's goal was to support opposition groups in the Gaza Strip working against Hamas rule," noting that the move "was carried out with Netanyahu's approval, without the knowledge of the cabinet and all security agencies."
Army Radio reported that Abu Shabab, a Palestinian resident of Gaza who is "not affiliated with Hamas," leads an armed militia operating in the Rafah area "under the auspices of the Israeli army."
She added that this group operates "with Israeli support and in areas controlled and occupied by the army," and is contributing to the fight against Hamas.
The radio station considered this move "a late Israeli plan for what is known as the 'day after' in the Gaza Strip," adding that "according to what was determined by the political level, a local Palestinian entity, neither affiliated with Hamas nor Fatah, was found willing to cooperate with Israel."
In recent days, photos and videos of members of the militia led by Abu Shabab have circulated. The images show individuals wearing helmets and protective vests that appear new and sophisticated, some in the olive-green color of the Israeli military uniform.
شارك برأيك
Abu Shabab, a collaborator with the occupation, calls on Hamas to step down and claims to "protect the Palestinians."