Hamas kills at least 50 members of Palestinian gang in Gaza

At least 50 people from a Palestinian gang in Gaza, led by a notorious leader, were killed by Hamas, Middle East Eye reported on June 11th.

The gang is led by Yasser Abu Shabab, who is known as a criminal. The group said Hamas killed “over 50 of our volunteers” as the members were protecting aid convoys and “redistribut[ing] supplies that were otherwise destined for corrupt entities” associated with Hamas.

On October 7th 2023, during Hamas’s assault on Israel that ignited the war, Abu Shabab sat in Hamas-run detention. Authorities had jailed him in Gaza on drug trafficking charges, according to The Guardian on June 11th.

As the conflict began, Abu Shabab left prison, although the circumstances of his release remain unclear. His Israeli-supplied armed group now includes over 100 fighters operating in eastern Rafah.

Hamas leaders informed Reuters that Abu Shabab was accused of “collaborating with the occupation against his people.” The officials declared Hamas forces eliminated at least 24 of his men before January 2025. The fighters allegedly attacked aid trucks before being killed.

The deaths come at a time that Israeli media has reported that Israel’s troops are getting involved in clashes between the gang and Hamas, in a bid to safeguard Abu Shabab.

Israeli news outlet i24 said an Israeli drone hit Hamas fighters during a fight with Abu Shabab’s militia. It described the attack as “the first Israeli strike on Gaza whose sole objective was to assist the Abu Shabab militia.”

The BBC reported on June 6th that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed Israel is arming some Gaza clans, which oppose Hamas. Israeli outlets reported, citing defence sources, that Netanyahu allowed weapons transfers to a group in southern Gaza.

The group, led by Yasser Abu Shabab, claims to safeguard aid convoys but faces looting accusations. Israeli defence officials confirmed the faction obtained Kalashnikov rifles, with some being confiscated from Hamas. Netanyahu justified the action, stating it protects the lives of Israeli soldiers.

Middle East Eye, Reuters, The Guardian, Maghrebi.org, BBC, i24