Gaza Herald – Israel has permitted members of the Yasser Abu Shabab militia to take part in inspecting Palestinians entering and leaving via the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt, according to Israel’s public broadcaster. The move was reportedly made “in the hope that this body will assume the task permanently.”
A photo taken earlier this week on the Palestinian side of the crossing showed militia leader Ghassan al-Dahini alongside armed members of the group.
The broadcaster indicated that militia elements were operating in the vicinity of the crossing, an area under Israeli control, and with Israeli approval. Israel reopened the Palestinian side of Rafah on February 2 under tight restrictions after occupying it since May 2024. The limited reopening followed months of closure that severely restricted civilian movement.
Israeli media previously reported that Israel has been covertly backing armed militias in Gaza with funding, weapons, and operational protection to counter Hamas, with some groups reportedly operating in coordination with Israeli forces under ceasefire arrangements. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged last June that Israel had armed militias in Gaza for use against Hamas. Yasser Abu Shabab, the militia’s founder, was reportedly killed in December during intra-tribal clashes, according to Israeli media reports.
