Gaza Militia Leader Claims “War Is Over” in Eastern Rafah
Yasser Abu Shabab, head of a militia in eastern Rafah, declared “the war is over” in his zone, claiming to have expelled Hamas and restored basic services. In a Wall Street Journal op-ed, he called for Western support to expand his control and create Gaza’s first non-Hamas-run safe zone since 2007.
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Yasser Abu Shabab, leader of the Abu Shabab militia controlling eastern Rafah, declared in a *Wall Street Journal* column published today, that “the war is over” for thousands in his territory, which he says no longer feels like Gaza. The militia, named after his Bedouin Tarabin tribe, has secured a few square kilometers, providing shelter, food, water, and basic medical supplies without Hamas interference, he claims. Abu Shabab, who emerged in May 2025 as a public challenger to Hamas, aims to expand this model across Rafah and Gaza, seeking Western backing to end Hamas’s rule.
In his column, Abu Shabab described eastern Rafah as Gaza’s only area since 2007 managed by a non-Hamas Palestinian administration. His armed patrols have kept Hamas and other militants out, eliminating chaotic aid queues, bombings, and fears of booby-trapped homes or human shields. “People now sleep without fear of death,” he wrote, contrasting this with Gaza’s ongoing war.
Abu Shabab’s militia began openly fighting Hamas in May, driven by the killing of his brother, Fathi, and cousin, Ibrahim, during anti-Hamas protests and aid efforts, along with 52 civilians under his protection. “Silence is no longer an option,” he stated, noting that most Gazans reject Hamas but fear its control over aid and institutions like UNRWA. He accused Hamas of turning aid centers into operational hubs.
He proposed three conditions for taking full control of Rafah and making it war-free: financial support to block Hamas’s return, humanitarian aid for food and shelter, and safe corridors for civilian movement. Abu Shabab believes over 600,000 people, nearly a third of Gaza’s population, could live outside the war’s cycle within months. He suggested Hamas leaders negotiate hostage releases for safe passage to countries like Qatar or Turkey, stating, “We don’t want them among us.”
Urging the U.S. and Arab states to recognize a non-Hamas Palestinian administration, Abu Shabab called on Gazans to support his fight. “From eastern Rafah, where families sleep safely, I can see Gaza’s future. Will the world help us build it, free from violence and terror?” he asked.