Gazan militias after Abu Shabab’s death: 'Hundreds of us are in the field, Hamas’ end is near'

Hussam al-Astal, a militia commander in Khan Yunis who regularly coordinated with Yasser Abu Shabab, said that his death will not affect the militias’ operations in the Gaza Strip, as reported this Sunday on the program “This Morning” with Ilayil Shahar on Kan Reshet Bet.

Al-Astal noted that Abu Shabab’s former deputy and successor, Rasan al-Dahiani, intends to follow in his footsteps and is well-versed in the militia’s military affairs.

“Hamas is trying to send people to infiltrate us, but we will expose them quickly,” al-Astal said. “Even though Abu Shabab was killed, there are hundreds of us across the different organizations active in the Strip. Hamas is trying to downplay us and claim we are only dozens, but that is not the case. We will not change our path.”

Al-Astal added that he still believes the militias – which receive weapons from Israel and operate in coordination with the IDF – are capable of defeating Hamas, and that “the terror organization’s end is near.”

According to information held by Israeli security officials, Yasser Abu Shabab was killed on Thursday in Rafah during a violent brawl in which he was attacked with punches and kicks by members of his militia and by the armed guards who regularly accompanied him. Other reports, however, claimed that the clan involved had ties to Hamas and that the terror organization was involved in his killing.

In June, it was revealed that Israel had supplied Abu Shabab’s clan with Kalashnikov rifles, with the approval of Prime Minister Netanyahu. Kan News learned that the idea was promoted by the Shin Bet, with the IDF also participating.

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