In a video shared by Yasser Abu Shabab, a Gazan who claims to head an armed Palestinian group that is working with Israel and the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation to distribute aid in southern Gaza
Ok, so what did Shabab actually say in the video?
- Gazan civilians from eastern Rafah (which is under IDF control) can return to live in the area, where empty tents, food and medicine await them.
- He created a force to protect Gazan civilians from the “terrorism” of Hamas and those stealing aid. (Indeed, he has been seen helping secure GHF’s food distribution.)
- His force falls under IDF control “not by choice, but out of necessity.”
- He is operating “under the cover of Palestinian legitimacy.”
Hamas, for one, isn’t happy. Hamas forces have already killed some of Shabab’s personnel, and are threatening him too. Unfortunately, this isn’t new. Israel has made numerous attempts during this war to hand authority in Gaza to various Palestinian clans as an alternative to Hamas—but Hamas murdered many of them, forcing those who remained to back off.
But back to Shabab. How reliable is he? We’ll have to wait and see, but if what he’s promising Gazan civilians is indeed true, eastern Rafah may well be about to witness the day after Hamas.