The “Abu Shabab” groups collaborating with Israeli occupation forces in eastern Rafah suffered a severe blow on Thursday after their leader, Yasser Abu Shabab, was killed by tribal gunmen in an area under his influence. The incident triggered wide Palestinian reactions, along with calls to isolate these groups and end their presence.
The killing of the group’s leader raises questions about the future of this formation, which faces broad public rejection in the Gaza Strip due to its collaboration with occupation forces responsible for committing genocide against civilians for two full years, as well as a systematic starvation campaign in which Abu Shabab and his groups were among the most active tools.
The Hebrew newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported that Ghassan Al-Dihini assumed leadership of the “Abu Shabab groups” after receiving treatment in an Israeli hospital for a minor injury sustained during the dispute that led to the killing of Yasser Abu Shabab last Thursday.
Yet the pressing question remains: Will Al-Dhini be able to control the Abu Shabab groups and their areas of influence?
A source from the Al-Tarabin tribe told Arabi21 that Al-Dhini’s succession of the “Abu Shabab groups” will not generate enthusiasm among members of this formation, which is based in eastern Rafah and operates within that area. The source noted that Al-Dhini is not originally from the region, meaning his leadership will likely be rejected by the militia components active there.
Acceptance of Al-Dhini
The source explained that Al-Dhini belongs to the same tribe as Abu Shabab (Al-Tarabin). However, the key difference is that he came to eastern Rafah from Tel Al-Sultan, west of the city, at the beginning of the latest war on Gaza, and had not previously lived in the eastern part of Rafah. This constitutes a major factor in whether he will be accepted and dealt with as the new leader of the groups.
The source stressed that the areas previously controlled by “Abu Shabab” are still under the strong influence of two major Bedouin families, Abu Sunaima and Al-Dabbari, who have lived in the area for decades and maintain a strong presence, particularly in the Al-Matar and Al-Shawka areas east of Rafah. The source pointed to early attempts by Al-Dhini to appease both families and “purchase” their goodwill as a means to consolidate his control over the region.
The source anticipated internal collapse within the Abu Shabab groups following the killing of their previous leader. Speaking to Arabi21, he said that reaching a point where disputes escalate “to blood” means inevitable developments will follow, all to the detriment of Abu Shabab’s groups and their new leader, Al-Dhini. He predicted that Al-Dhini will meet the same fate as his predecessor.
The source continued, “The Abu Shabab groups consist of young men from eastern Rafah, including members of families that now have blood feuds with the group’s current leadership. This means imminent internal conflicts that could topple the entire formation,” according to his assessment.
Israeli Concerns
Israeli security assessments indicate fears of escalating chaos and the collapse of “Israel’s bet” on the tribal groups collaborating with it in Rafah and other border areas of the Gaza Strip, following the killing of Yasser Abu Shabab.
Israeli analysts note that Abu Shabab’s death dealt a heavy blow to “day after” planning, which relied on local tribal groups as an alternative to Hamas governance. The incident exposed the fragility of these militias and their rapid collapse under even minimal field pressure, according to a report by the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation.
They argue that the continued disintegration of these groups may lead to one of two scenarios: either strengthening Hamas’s position as the most organised force despite the war, or pushing the Strip into a deeper cycle of security chaos and tribal revenge. This latter scenario is the one most feared by Israeli security agencies.
