Amid the devastation of Gaza — battered by war, siege, and humanitarian collapse — a shadowy figure has emerged: Yasser Abu Shabab. Once a local gang leader, Abu Shabab now plays a central role in a controversial Israeli strategy aimed at eroding Hamas’s grip on the besieged territory. Yet his involvement also reveals a web of conflicting interests between Israeli intelligence, Palestinian Authority (PA) circles, and local criminal networks — all at the expense of Gaza’s civilians.
A Pawn in a Dangerous Game
According to a well-informed Palestinian source familiar with Gaza’s internal dynamics, “Yasser Abu Shabab operates covertly on behalf of Mahmoud al-Habbash,” the former Hamas member who later served as Minister of Religious Affairs and is now the religious affairs adviser to PA President Mahmoud Abbas.
But this relationship is fraught with controversy. The same source adds, “Mahmoud al-Habbash has been discredited in Palestinian circles because of his known ties to Israeli intelligence services.”
In this murky environment, Abu Shabab straddles the line between organized crime, political intrigue, and covert operations — serving as a convenient tool in a wider Israeli effort to destabilize Hamas from within.
Looting Humanitarian Aid: A Weapon of Destabilization
In recent weeks, Gaza’s already fragile humanitarian system has been further undermined by systematic looting of aid distribution centers, particularly in the north of the Strip. Eyewitness accounts and multiple sources point to militias under Abu Shabab’s command as key perpetrators of these acts — part of a deliberate attempt to disrupt aid networks, many of which are linked to or controlled by Hamas-affiliated groups.
In a striking admission, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu openly acknowledged that Abu Shabab’s group is working under Israeli guidance to weaken Hamas’s authority on the ground.
Yet this cynical strategy carries profound risks. By weaponizing criminal networks to deepen internal fractures, Israel is fueling social chaos that may ultimately prove far harder to contain than Hamas itself.
A Convenient Double Game
Ever the opportunist, Yasser Abu Shabab frequently claims to act “on behalf of the Palestinian Authority,” Hamas’s bitter rival. This narrative is designed to appeal to segments of Gaza’s war-weary population disillusioned with Hamas’s rule — despite Abu Shabab’s own well-documented record of criminal activity.
At the same time, this ambiguity serves Israel’s interests. By promoting a figure who can simultaneously disrupt Hamas and taint the image of the Palestinian Authority, Israeli policymakers are exacerbating Palestinian political fragmentation.
A Political Trap for Ramallah
For Mahmoud Abbas and the PA, the involvement of a close adviser such as Mahmoud al-Habbash in this murky enterprise poses a serious political liability. Already accused of impotence in the face of Israel’s onslaught and disconnected from Gaza’s realities, the PA now risks further loss of legitimacy if it is seen — even indirectly — to be complicit in looting aid and fueling disorder.
Such perceptions could irreparably damage the PA’s standing among Palestinians at a time when public confidence in all Palestinian leadership is perilously low.
Toward Endless Chaos?
Israel’s use of figures like Yasser Abu Shabab reflects a broader shift toward unconventional — and morally questionable — tools in its long-standing confrontation with Hamas. But this approach is unlikely to yield a more stable Gaza.
Instead, by criminalizing civic life, deepening internal divisions, and undermining humanitarian operations, Israel’s strategy may entrench a state of protracted chaos. In this bleak scenario, neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority — and certainly not the long-suffering civilians of Gaza — stand to gain.
By Belgacem Merbah
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