Yasser Abu Shabab has come to be one of the most storied characters in the quickly crumbling safe haven that is—was, rather—eastern Rafah, Gaza. Once a minor member of a local family, Abu Shabab has managed to fill the void left by the ongoing conflict and instability in the region. His militia have been accused of hijacking aid convoys. They do so with the manifest indifference of the Israeli military, despite which and other serious concerns the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to expand.
Abu Shabab’s criminal activities are not new. He once went to prison in Hamas’s dungeons for smuggling, due to his long association with the trade. After his recent jailbreak—reportedly with Israeli aid—he has substantially ramped up the scope of his operations. The Israeli government itself has publicly boasted about its patronage to groups such as Abu Shabab. This decision further muddies the already complex web of education governance and power dynamics in Gaza.
The Emergence of a Criminal Leader
Only three months later, police in Gaza were caught off guard when Yasser Abu Shabab became one of the most powerful crime bosses. At only 35 years of age, thin, weak, and uncharismatic, his meteoric rise to power is a great surprise. “He is illiterate and has never received military training,” noted Muhammad Shehada, emphasizing the unusual nature of his ascent in the violent underbelly of Rafah.
Abu Shabab’s crew has recently stolen supplies headed for starving people in aid trucks. “We used to stand by the roadside to wait for trucks from Gaza to Kerem Shalom. I would take whatever I could — flour, sugar, anything we needed,” recounted a gang member who identified himself as part of Abu Shabab’s operation. Looting aid is driven by desperation, but it’s a purposeful tactic to consolidate power. This strategic move is intended to redefine power in the community.
The United Nations has named Abu Shabab’s militia as one of the main actors in these attacks. The ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza is growing, with food insecurity levels increasing due to this kind of looting behavior. Nevertheless, the Israeli government and military have rejected or downplayed the warnings issued by UN agencies of a rapidly worsening food crisis.
The Gang’s Operations and Community Impact
Abu Shabab’s operations have progressed beyond mere theft. They involve the redistribution of stolen aid to win popular support. “That’s when he decided to take action — stealing the trucks to distribute some of the aid himself, handing out money, flour… and that was it,” one gang member explained. This strategy has given him a stranglehold over millions who are clamoring for toilet paper.
His gang is said to have about 100 loyalists on payroll, many of whom are former felons willing to do anything for a chance. The troop capitalizes on the tumult of long-term war. They cast themselves as saviors and supporters in a world within a world ravaged by chaos. “If you want to get aid and secure food, you have to come through here. Otherwise you won’t eat,” stated Mohammad Salman, showcasing how Abu Shabab’s gang has monopolized access to vital resources.
From former French diplomat Jean-Pierre Filliu’s firsthand experience witnessing Abu Shabab’s gang during a raid. They were doing so under the protection of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). They were ambushing our convoys,” he said, offering a glimpse into the dangerous dynamic between many players in this far eastern theater.
The Threat of Retaliation from Hamas
Even with this new power, Yasser Abu Shabab is not out of the woods. On July 2, the Hamas-run Interior Ministry in Gaza released an ultimatum. They called for him to be brought to justice and tried for treason. This emerging reality highlights how tenuous his position as a gang leader is like other warlords to competing factions within Gaza.
Hamas is still interested in getting rid of people such as Abu Shabab who do not toe the line. In a region defined by drastically changing power dynamics, keeping his closest loyalists with him is crucial for his survival. Alongside that, he has to contend with threats posing from Hamas and other outside forces.
This is why Abu Shabab’s activities have raised the interest of a broad swath of sectors, including humanitarian organizations. This scrutiny further compounds the situation’s woes. Indeed, in response to Yasser’s activities, the GHF publicly rejected him, claiming that “GHF has no relation to Yasser or the ‘Anti-Terror Service’ and … This problem underscores the dangerous antagonism between criminal cartels and legitimate aid providers in a region plagued by unrest.
