INVESTIGATION: Deep Dive On Israeli-Backed Crime Syndicate Behind Gaza Aid Looting

Rather than endorsing a Palestinian alternative to Hamas in the Gaza Strip, to facilitate and secure the entry of food and aid trucks in the Gaza Strip,  the Israeli military has opted to support and equip the militia of a well-known gangster, who has been implicated in multiple thefts of humanitarian aid. In a bid to isolate Hamas, the Israeli military reached out to specific clans in Gaza, aiming to establish an alternative to the Palestinian Resistance Group Hamas. Yet, these networks of solidarity were significantly diminished by the forced displacement of civilian populations in Gaza, and most were unwilling to unite against the Palestinian Resistance Group. Subsequently, the Israeli military authorities opted for a Daesh-affiliated faction involved in organised crime in Gaza, which could operate close to their positions, in Rafah (Egyptian border), with the intention of converting them into a local auxiliary militia. The leader of this group, which can only be described as a gang, is Yasser Abu Shabab, a convicted criminal who has been disowned by his family in Rafah and is fueled by a desire for revenge against Hamas.

Yasser Abu Shabab, having broken free from Israeli prison where he was incarcerated on trafficking charges following the Oct 7 attack,  has now surfaced as a militia leader in southern Gaza, backed by Israel. In June, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged providing arms and support to an unidentified group, which, soon after, was identified as the”Popular Forces militia”, a criminal entity roughly made up of 300 fighters operating in Gaza under the leadership of Abu Shabab, and entrusted by Israel to counter Hamas. Abu Shabab boasts a polished presence on social media and has recently written an op-ed for the Wall Street Journal, asserting with no shame that Palestinians in Gaza have moved on from Hamas. Analysts suggest that his sophisticated media skills were probably developed outside of Gaza. Interestingly, Abu Shabab’s supposed ties to ISIL/DAESH have not posed a problem for Israel. Abu Shabab is a member of the Tarabin tribe, which has publicly renounced him for his collaboration with Israel. He gained notoriety in late May 2024 following Israel’s invasion of Rafah in southern Gaza. With the backing of the Israeli military, this criminal became the leader of a gang unofficially sanctioned by the IDF to plunder food and aid trucks entering Gaza. A memo from the United Nations, acquired by The Washington Post, determined last month that the gangs “might be receiving a passive, if not active, support” or “protection” from the Israel Defense Forces. According to the memo reviewed by the Post, one gang leader (Abu Shabab) has set up a “military-style compound” in a region that is “restricted, controlled, and monitored by the IDF.” 

On July 29, 2025, Eekad, the Arab region’s first open-source intelligence platform, released the result of their investigation, presenting the inaugural thorough media analysis of the Popular Forces militia, headed by Yaser Abu Shabab. The report details the internal organisation of the group, highlights its primary operational zones, and tracks its activities throughout the Gaza Strip.

#OpenProbe| A new investigation by Eekad offers the first comprehensive media analysis of the Popular Forces militia—led by Yaser Abu Shabab, backed by Israel, and implicated in systematically looting humanitarian aid in Gaza. This report outlines the group’s internal… pic.twitter.com/vzV6rdYvmX

— EekadFacts | إيكاد (@EekadFacts) July 29, 2025

COGAT, the civilian affairs division of the Israeli military responsible for the Palestinian territories, has justified its restrictions on the movement of goods in the enclave by repeatedly asserting that Hamas is misusing aid and hindering its distribution to civilians. However, Gaza businessmen like Adham Shuhaibar and others who run trucks have disclosed in discussions with the UN and NGOs that the looting was perpetrated by a violent and well-organised gang, and not by Hamas, as claimed by COGAT.

A recent report from Al Jazeera indicates that Abu Shabab’s militia is constructing what analysts refer to as concentration camps in Southern Gaza. Reportedly, this initiative aims to confine over half a million Palestinians in the area until a chance emerges to relocate them to other locations outside of Gaza, such as Egypt or third countries like South Sudan. According to Muhammad Shehada, a visiting fellow with the European Council on Foreign Relations, Israel is fully aware that if the IDF were to run a concentration camp in Rafah, it would create a negative image. This is why, for purely cosmetic purposes, Israel prefers to have “a Palestinian face”—dressed in Palestinian uniforms, adorned with a Palestinian flag, and speaking Arabic to represent this inhuman and evil plan, which ultimately could serve as a precursor to the expulsion of Palestinians from their land.

Today, we are highlighting an insightful investigation authored by Iranian journalist Maryam Qarehgozlou, and showcased by PressTV. This investigation delves into the world of Yasser Abu Shabab and his “Popular Forces,” a Daesh-affiliated terrorist group and Israel’s proxy in Gaza…

Maryam Qarehgozlou reports for PressTV…

INVESTIGATION: Inside the Israeli-armed terror proxy looting Gaza aid to advance a genocidal agenda

Recent reports have revealed that the Israeli regime is providing arms to a Daesh-affiliated terrorist group to loot aid designated for people in the besieged and war-ravaged Gaza Strip, where the 2.3 million population is grappling with famine.

The so-called “Popular Forces” militia, led by Yaser Abu Shabab, is systematically looting and redirecting humanitarian aid in Gaza, manipulated to serve Israeli genocidal objectives. According to Eekad, an open-source intelligence platform, Israel stopped aid deliveries to Gaza on March 2 after claiming that Hamas was “stealing aid” to justify its weaponization of aid against civilians.

After nearly three months of complete aid blockade, under international pressure for pushing the besieged territory to the verge of famine, the apartheid regime forced a new model of aid distribution led by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), bypassing United Nations-affiliated aid groups. The notorious GHF, backed by the Israeli regime and the United States, began distributing food packages in Gaza toward the end of May, with the UN rejecting the efforts as inadequate, dangerous, and a violation of impartiality rules.

Since then, the UN says, more than 1,400 Palestinians have been killed trying to reach food. Most of them have been purposefully shot by Israeli occupation forces or so-called US “security contractors” hired by GHF, according to testimonies from whistleblowers. The shootings have become a daily occurrence, while starvation and malnutrition-related deaths continue to climb in coastal Palestinian territory. According to the Gaza health ministry, hunger-related deaths are nearing 200 in the territory, half of them children.

Looting of aid further compounds Gaza’s hunger crisis, as nearly 90 percent of UN-collected aid trucks along Gaza’s border fail to reach their intended destination since mid-May due to looting by armed actors, according to the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS).

UNOPS found that of the 2,604 aid trucks that entered the war-torn territory from May 19 to August 5, only 295 vehicles, or 12 percent, were spared from theft or mass looting. Earlier last month, in an interview with the Israeli broadcaster KAN, Abu Shabab, the ringleader of the looting group, acknowledged coordinating with the Israeli military on aid distribution and receiving administrative support from the Palestinian Authority.

He openly declared war on the Hamas resistance movement and expressed readiness to assume control of the Gaza Strip if Hamas were removed from power by the Israeli regime.

Investigation – How Israel used Daesh-linked gangs and GHF to weaponize aid against Palestinians

By @falasteen47 https://t.co/VuiinPg2f1

— Press TV (@PressTV) July 27, 2025

Based on Eekad’s report, the so-called “Popular Forces” terrorist group is made up of more than a dozen individuals, including the senior leadership, mid-level operatives closely tied to command, and lower-tier members assigned to so-called “aid security operations.”

Most of these individuals are prison escapees and have affiliations with terrorist groups such as Daesh.

By analysing videos and photos shared by them on their Facebook and TikTok accounts and finding their active locations, a detailed operational map of their deployment across Gaza was reconstructed, and methods employed to loot and redirect humanitarian aid were uncovered. Their deployment is geographically limited to areas under Israeli control, particularly between the Kerem Shalom crossing and the Morag Corridor.

In these zones, the Israeli-backed militia group engages in systematic looting of humanitarian aid while claiming to be “securing” it, in line with the regime’s “starvation” agenda.

The site selected for distributing aid and erecting tents by the group aligns precisely with Israeli plans to displace Gaza’s population southward—demonstrating the use of seemingly humanitarian operations to serve the Israeli regime’s forced displacement objectives.

Who is Yaser Abu Shabab?

Abu Shabab, 35, is a member of the Al-Tarabin family—one of the largest tribal confederations spanning Palestine, Egypt, and Jordan, and based in Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip.

Gazans — including analysts, residents, and members of his own tribe — say he is a gang leader aligned with the Israeli military and previously fought under the banner of terrorist groups.

Adel al-Tarabin, a leader in the Bedouin Tarabin tribe, says he is a looter and a bandit.

“Yasser Abu Shabab doesn’t represent us. He only represents himself,” he said.

IMAGE: Yaser Abu Shabab (Source: via social media)

He was previously detained by Gaza’s Ministry of Interior Affairs on criminal charges related to arms and narcotics trafficking, but managed to escape custody following Israeli airstrikes that targeted internal security installations after the genocidal war began on October 7, 2023.

In May 2024, he led an armed group of roughly 100 to 300 men in raids targeting humanitarian aid convoys entering Gaza. His group reportedly seized 80 of the first 100 aid trucks that entered Gaza in early October 2024. Between May and October, the group was also implicated in killing four aid drivers.

On July 2, Gaza’s Ministry of Interior Affairs issued a 10-day ultimatum demanding that Abu Shabab and his fighters surrender for trial. Shortly afterwards, the Palestinian Joint Operations Room released a statement calling for his execution in response to his media appearance on Israeli broadcaster KAN.

According to an internal UN memo cited by The Washington Post, Abu Shabab was described as “the main and most influential stakeholder behind systematic and massive looting” of humanitarian convoys in the Gaza Strip amid the ongoing genocidal war.

Why does Israel support Abu Shabab?

Israeli regime officials have already confirmed that Abu Shabab and his group had been supplied with arms as part of a broader strategy to strengthen local actors to weaken Hamas, divide Palestinians, and undermine their national aspirations. In June, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel was arming members of clans — large, influential extended families — in Gaza as counterweights to Hamas.

“Based on advice from security officials, we supported clans in Gaza that oppose Hamas,” Netanyahu said in a video posted on X. “What’s wrong with that? It’s a good thing. It saves the lives of soldiers.”

On June 8, Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper quoted a senior Palestinian security official as saying that the Palestinian Authority also provides support to Abu Shabab and his terrorist outfit.

Abu Shabab’s deployment site

The base that the terrorist ringleader said he has set up is in a part of southeastern Gaza currently under the direct control of the Israeli occupation army. The group’s operations have been concentrated in the areas of Al-Shawka and Al-Bayuk, east of Rafah City, as well as the northern outskirts of Rafah—all strategically located near the Kerem Shalom border crossing and under direct Israeli military supervision.

Media reports, citing local traders in Gaza, said that Abu Shabab’s terrorist group constructed earth berms along the main road leading from the Kerem Shalom border crossing, within an area under the Israeli regime’s control. These berms served as checkpoints, where heavily armed fighters were stationed to intercept and seize incoming humanitarian aid convoys. An analysis of satellite imagery from November 2024 also clearly shows a series of earth mounds running along the same route.

In recent months, Israeli regime forces have refrained from interfering when Abu Shabab and his men, armed with AK-47s, patrolled a central artery in the area and stopped UN and Red Cross vehicles at makeshift checkpoints, according to several aid workers in Gaza.

The pattern suggests a transactional relationship: freedom of movement granted in exchange for implementing policies aligned with Israeli objectives. In early June 2025, the militia’s official Facebook page, “Yaser Abu Shabab – Popular Forces,” posted a video and statement urging displaced residents of East Rafah to return to the area.

The statement claimed that food and water supplies had been distributed, shelters had been established, and humanitarian corridors had been reopened. The tent camp featured in the footage was located approximately one kilometre east of the Morag Corridor, based on the geolocation of the video’s landmarks. The video also captured scenes of flour distribution, which experts confirmed was aid from the World Food Programme, donated by the European Union. The distribution site was geolocated just 150 meters from the tent camp.

UN agencies and other international organisations say they do not cooperate with the group.

According to CNN, construction of the tents began on May 17, 2025—just one day before Israel reopened the Kerem Shalom crossing. Sky News journalists shared satellite imagery on June 4 that confirmed the camp’s location near the Morag Corridor. However, some of the tents appeared damaged or unusable, contradicting the militia’s claims.

This very site was publicly designated by hawkish Israeli minister Bezalel Smotrich as the preferred relocation area for forcibly displaced Gazans.

IMAGE: Abu Shabab’s camp is situated between the Egyptian border and the Morag Corridor. This narrow strip of land is central to Israel’s broader forced displacement strategy.

Situated between the Egyptian border and the Morag Corridor, this narrow strip of land is central to Israel’s broader forced displacement strategy, which has been framed as a “humanitarian shelter” initiative aimed at forcefully moving civilians southward.

The same areas, where the terror outfit claims to be “securing aid”, have also been referred to as “Gaza’s looting valley,” a term used by Sam Rose, Director of UNRWA Affairs in Gaza, to describe the stretch between Kerem Shalom and Khan Yunis that has seen extensive looting of aid supplies.

The narrow operational footprint of the Abu Shabab militia further undermines its claims of humanitarian or security functions. Instead, the group appears to serve as a functional proxy, enabling the advancement of Israeli strategic interests under the guise of relief operations.

Abu Shabab’s key ally: Ghassan Al-Duhini

Ghassan Al-Duhini serves as Abu Shabab’s deputy and is considered one of the top commanders of the so-called “Popular Forces” militia. He, too, escaped from prison following the outbreak of war in Gaza in October 2023.

He previously worked with the Palestinian Authority security services before joining the so-called “Army of Islam,” another Gaza-based extremist terrorist organisation.

IMAGE: Ghassan Al-Duhini’s social media account

He reportedly ran smuggling networks and maintained close ties between the so-called “Army of Islam” and other extremist groups operating in the Sinai Peninsula.

On June 8, he posted a video on his Facebook account in which he appears in military uniform, firing a Kalashnikov rifle. Geolocation analysis corroborated that the footage was recorded outside Al-Da’wah Mosque in the Al-Shawka area, east of Rafah, just meters from the tent camp and flour distribution sites near the Morag Corridor.

Issam Nabahin, former Daesh terrorist

Issam Nabahin is another senior figure in the militia group’s leadership.

He is regarded as one of the group’s most prominent operatives and is a notorious former Daesh terrorist who took part in armed clashes against the Egyptian army in Sinai. Nabahin returned to Gaza shortly before the October 7 Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, led by the Hamas resistance movement and other groups.

IMAGE: Issam Nabahin appeared in a photo posted by Ghassan Al-Duhini on TikTok on June 8, 2025.

According to Israeli media reports, he escaped from a Gaza prison on the first day of the war.

He later joined the Abu Shabab militia and appeared in a photo posted by Al-Duhini on TikTok on June 8, indicating his proximity to the terrorist group’s senior leadership. Several days later, reports suggested that Gaza’s security forces apprehended Nabahin. However, his current detention status remains unconfirmed.

Connections between members of the Abu Shabab group and Daesh were further reinforced by a statement from former Israeli minister of military affairs Avigdor Lieberman on June 5, in which he said that Netanyahu’s cabinet was supplying weapons to Daesh-affiliated gangs operating in the Gaza Strip.

Bakr Al-Wuqayli

Bakr Al-Wuqayli, who operated multiple accounts linked to the so-called “Popular Forces,” is another individual within the immediate circle of Abu Shabab. In one image posted on social media, Al-Wuqayli appears wearing a tactical vest nearly identical to that worn by senior commander Al-Duhini.

IMAGE: Bakr Al-Wuqayli

A pro-Abu Shabab TikTok account also published a video of Al-Wuqayli driving through Rafah.

Geolocation analysis confirmed the footage was captured near the same tent encampment previously identified by Eekad, further reinforcing his affiliation with the group.

Yousef “Abu Naser”

Through Bakr Al-Wuqayli’s social media connections, another Facebook profile tied to the network was identified, belonging to an individual named Yousef “Abu Naser.”

Yousef also maintained a TikTok account—since deleted—where he had posted multiple photos.

Among these was an image showing him alongside Bakr Al-Wuqayli, both of whom were holding weapons and wearing helmets, tactical gear, and a military-grade quiver similar to those worn by Al-Duhini and Bakr.

IMAGE: Yousef “Abu Naser”

These findings suggest that Yousef was likely a second-tier member of the Abu Shabab terrorist group.

Saddam Majed “Abu Zakkar”

On April 8, a TikTok account published photos of Saddam Majed “Abu Zakkar” with his brother, referring to them as “martyrs of Al-Shawka”—the same area east of Rafah where the looting group currently operates under the protection of the Israeli military.

Al-Duhini also posted a story in April featuring Saddam, expressing condolences over his death.

IMAGE: Ghassan Al-Duhini (L) and Saddam Majed, also known as “Abu Zakkar”

These references suggest that Saddam was closely tied to the Abu Shabab network before his death.

Tareq “Abu Hasan”

Another mid-level operative identified was Tareq, known by the alias “Abu Hasan.”

An analysis of his Facebook account reveals connections to both Al-Duhini and Bakr Al-Wuqayli, reinforcing suspicions of his affiliation with the terrorist group.

Tareq had also shared condolence messages for the slain members of the militia group and posted stories showing Abu Shabab fighters—armed and positioned atop aid trucks.

IMAGE: Tareq “Abu Hasan”

A pro-Abu Shabab TikTok account posted a photo showing Bakr Al-Wuqayli next to a man whose face was partially concealed by a heart emoji.

Facial analysis of the exposed features—specifically the eyes, nose, and eyebrows—identified the individual as Tareq “Abu Hasan,” further linking him to the network and suggesting his affiliation with the top leadership.

Abu Hasan Al-Tarabani

A closer review of Tareq’s content reveals a story showing two armed men sitting atop an aid truck. Facial recognition confirmed that one of them was Abu Hasan Al-Tarabani, who died in late 2024.

IMAGE: Abu Hasan Al-Tarabani

Analysis of Al-Tarabani’s account showed a video posted in September 2024, in which he appeared alongside Ghassan Al-Duhini inside a vehicle.

This finding suggests that he belonged to the same Al-Tarabin family as Yaser Abu Shabab.

Nimer “Abu Al-Hussain”

There is a third tier of individuals affiliated with the Abu Shabab terror outfit. These figures appear less directly connected to the main leadership and were primarily tasked with what they described as “aid security.”

The first third-tier operative identified was Nimer “Abu Al-Hussain,” an active TikTok user who posted several videos showing his role in transporting and securing humanitarian aid.

IMAGE: Nimer “Abu Al-Hussain”

These videos were shared up until January 19, before the ceasefire reached between Israel and Hamas that was breached by the regime two months later. The footage captured instances of tampering with food boxes, affirming their complete control over the aid at a time when famine was ravaging Gaza.

These videos, recorded during the war and before the ceasefire, were geolocated to areas under Israeli military control, such as the Philadelphia Corridor. This discovery strongly indicates that the Abu Shabab terrorist group was coordinating with Israeli forces prior to the ceasefire.

Furthermore, it underscores the group’s involvement in manipulating aid deliveries intended for Gaza’s starving population.

Kareem “Abu Al-Hussain”

Also appearing in Nimer’s videos is his associate, Kareem Issam—commonly referred to as Kareem “Abu Al-Hussain.”

In May, Kareem shared footage of aid convoys moving south of Gaza, aligning with the forced displacement of Rafah residents toward Al-Mawasi following evacuation orders issued by the regime.

IMAGE: Kareem “Abu Al-Hussain”

This timing and location point to Kareem’s active presence in areas where the Israeli military was operating, further indicating coordination between the terrorist group and Israeli regime forces. Given the heightened security in these areas, it would have been difficult for armed individuals to move freely without prior authorisation.

One of Kareem’s videos, posted on June 9, was geolocated to the Al-Bayuk area, overlooking Salah Al-Din Street.

The footage showed an aid truck traveling from Rafah heading north, just 2.5 kilometres from the tent camp area previously declared by the Abu Shabab group.

Abood “Abu Al-Hussain”

Abood “Abu Al-Hussain,” another member of the Abu Shabab terrorist group, is operating under the group’s so-called “aid security” wing.

Although he is not clearly visible in most posts, Abood shared videos in which he appears to be looting aid while armed. In one video from May, he is seen riding in a vehicle with Yousef “Abu Naser.”

He also shared a photo of Bakr Al-Wuqayli, apparently taken inside a house, suggesting a personal connection and deeper involvement in the terror group network.

IMAGE: Abood “Abu Al-Hussain” shared a photo of Bakr Al-Wuqayli, apparently taken inside a house, suggesting a personal connection and deeper involvement in the group’s network.

Significantly, all of Abood’s “aid security” videos were recorded after March 18, when the Israeli regime resumed its genocidal war against Gaza after it shattered the ceasefire deal with Hamas.

These recordings occurred in areas where the Israeli military had forced civilians to evacuate to the south of Khan Yunis, further indicating that Abu Shabab members cooperate with the Israeli military.

Abo Anis

The final figure uncovered in this tier of the investigation is a person known as Abo Anis. Like others in the group, he posted videos documenting the looting of aid, one of which featured the caption “flour only.” This specific phrase appeared frequently in content shared by other Abu Shabab members, including Kareem “Abu Al-Hussain.”

On December 5, Abo Anis posted a video depicting armed terrorists seizing aid trucks on Salah Al-Din Street and forcibly removing the drivers.

IMAGE: Abo Anis

One of the trucks appeared immobilised, its tire damaged—possibly by gunfire—making it unable to continue down the road. Geolocation analysis confirmed the scene was filmed in the Khan Yunis Governorate, near the Gaza European Hospital.

The so-called “Popular Forces” is not a spontaneous group, the Eekad report concludes.

It is rather a calculated tool deployed in moments of crisis, operating under the banner of humanitarian work, functioning in coordination with Israeli authorities, advancing a new security reality in Gaza aligned with Tel Aviv’s genocidal agenda to fully occupy Gaza.

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Source: https://21stcenturywire.com/2025/08/14/investigation-deep-dive-on-israeli-backed-crime-syndicate-behind-gaza-aid-looting/