Who are the Abu Shabab armed militia that Israel is backing in Gaza?

Who are the Abu Shabab armed militia that Israel is backing in Gaza?

In unusual public statement last week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu admitted “activating” Palestinian militias in Gaza. Acting on the advice of security officials, he said, it was a way to weaken Hamas and protect Israeli soldiers.

The admission came after Israeli media reported that Mr Netanyahu had authorised the arming of a militia, known as the Abu Shabab Popular Forces, in the southern Gaza Strip. The group is named after its leader, Yasser Abu Shabab.

Now, Hamas has a new rival amid its battle with Israel. Hamas fighters have retaliated at the gang and claimed to have killed dozens from its small-but-growing ranks. It is believed that there are only 300 men serving Abu Shabab but sources told The National they are armed with assault rifles and are equipped with walkie-talkies and night-vision goggles. Among them are men with criminal records and links to ISIS.

In this episode of Beyond the Headlines, host Nada AlTaher speaks to experts about the origins of Abu Shabab, why the group is surfacing now and how Israel is backing it. She is joined by Muhammad Shehada, a visiting fellow with the European Council on Foreign Relation’s Mena programme, and Michael Milshtein, head of the Palestinian Studies Forum at the Moshe Dayan Centre for Middle Eastern and African Studies at Tel Aviv University.

Editor’s Note: We want to hear from you! Help us improve our podcasts by taking our 2-minute listener survey. Click here.

Jaksot(476)

Can the Global Sumud Flotilla really break the siege of Gaza?

Can the Global Sumud Flotilla really break the siege of Gaza?

Dozens of boats carrying activists from about 44 countries have finally set sail for Gaza after much delay. The Global Sumud Flotilla is not the first humanitarian mission to attempt to break Israel’s...

19 Syys 202520min

What does Israel’s strike on Doha mean for the Gulf?

What does Israel’s strike on Doha mean for the Gulf?

In the past month, Israel has bombed Palestine, Yemen, Syria and Lebanon, but its attack on Hamas officials in Qatar this week was most unexpected. And it hit a nerve. Arab leaders immediately express...

12 Syys 202523min

What next after Israel’s strike on Hamas in Doha?

What next after Israel’s strike on Hamas in Doha?

Israel’s attack on Hamas leaders in Doha on Tuesday drew widespread condemnation from the international community. Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani described it as “state...

10 Syys 20259min

What will happen to the Houthis after Israel’s assassination strike?

What will happen to the Houthis after Israel’s assassination strike?

The Israeli army's killing of several Houthi government officials, including the prime minister, marks another serious escalation in the region. Until now, the army had mostly attacked infrastructure ...

5 Syys 202519min

What guarantees does Lebanon have after Hezbollah disarms?

What guarantees does Lebanon have after Hezbollah disarms?

US envoys Tom Barrack and Morgan Ortagus were in Lebanon this week to restate a key demand: Hezbollah must disarm. The latest push from Washington came with economic incentives as Mr Barrack proposed ...

29 Elo 202520min

Why Ehud Olmert wants an end to Israel’s war in Gaza

Why Ehud Olmert wants an end to Israel’s war in Gaza

Former Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert supported the war in Gaza when it began, but soon changed his mind. He advocated a limited military operation rather than a full-scale offensive. Now, he says...

27 Elo 202516min

The compounded suffering caused by Gaza’s ‘manufactured’ cash crisis

The compounded suffering caused by Gaza’s ‘manufactured’ cash crisis

Israel has imposed a strict blockade on Gaza since March leaving 2.2 million Palestinians in the strip with practically nothing. Food, medicine and water are extremely scarce with only trickles of aid...

22 Elo 202518min

What's changed in Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover?

What's changed in Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover?

Four years after the Taliban’s return to power, Afghanistan remains in the shadow of that chaotic August day in 2021 when US troops finally withdrew, ending two decades of war. The images from Kabul’s...

15 Elo 202523min

Suosittua kategoriassa Politiikka ja uutiset

aikalisa
rss-ootsa-kuullut-tasta
tervo-halme
ootsa-kuullut-tasta-2
politiikan-puskaradio
viisupodi
rss-podme-livebox
et-sa-noin-voi-sanoo-esittaa
rss-asiastudio
otetaan-yhdet
rss-vaalirankkurit-podcast
the-ulkopolitist
linda-maria
rikosmyytit
rss-mina-ukkola
rss-kaikki-uusiksi
rss-merja-mahkan-rahat
radio-antro
rss-polikulaari-humanisti-vastaa-ja-muut-ts-podcastit
rss-raha-talous-ja-politiikka