There has been a lot of talk concerning Yasser Abu Shabab, the Bedouin Gazan leader who heads up an armed opposition group to Hamas. The group has been guarding the aid trucks heading into Gaza from Hamas as well as offering perimeter security near the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) food distribution sites in Rafah.
Yasser Abu Shabab recently released a 4 minute video targeting Gazans, inviting them to what he calls east Rafah, which is under his control. Interestingly, east Rafah is essentially already under full IDF control and buttresses Kerem Shalom crossing. The leader makes it clear that those Gazans that want to live peacefully and need food and shelter can come and live there.
What Is Really Going On?
Yasser Abu Shabab’s armed Bedouin clan offers the first chance to build up an area free of Hamas rule. It also offers the beginning of what many are calling the cantonization of Gaza. This day after plan sees the Gaza Strip being broken up along clan lines, something that had always existed before the Palestinian Authority and then Hamas took over. While many Gazans go want to leave, those that stay will be broken up into six or more cantons or governorates – each with an administrative head picked by the ruling clan.
While it’s not clear if the Yasser Abu Shabab clan is the beginning of this process or not, what is clear is that Hamas’ rule keeps on weakening. More and more Gazans are disregarding Hamas propaganda and flocking to the GHF distribution sites. This vacuum of power in Gaza has enabled the Yasser Abu Shabab clan to rise up. The real question is. – will there be more/