Counter Terrorism Service (Gaza)
The Counter Terrorism Service is the armed wing of the Palestinian anti-Hamas group known as the Popular Forces.
Background
Societal breakdown in Gaza
During the course of the Gaza war, societal breakdown across the Gaza Strip caused by offensives launched by the Israel Defense Forces has caused: starvation, famine, lack of supplies and a weaker Hamas created by the conflict has led to the rise of anti-Hamas armed elements in the Gaza Strip.Origins
The Popular Forces' were founded by Yasser Abu Shabab, a local clan leader, gangster, and former drug trafficker convicted and imprisoned by the Hamas government. Abu Shabab was arrested by Hamas in 2015 on drug trafficking charges and sentenced to 25 years in Asda prison, located in Khan Yunis. The group was created after Abu Shabab escaped from the prison as it was bombed by Israel in October 2023. Reportedly, after his escape, Abu Shabab headed to the Kerem Shalom border crossing and assembled a force of a few hundred men, exerting control over the territory near it.First appointed leader
Ghassan served as the first official military commander of the Popular Forces' military wing, Counter-Terrorism Service, and formerly a senior commander to Yasser Abu Shabab. He comes from the Tarabin clan based in the Rafah area. Duhine previously held roles in the Palestinian National Security Forces prior to the 2007 Battle of Gaza, and has been described by media outlets as a former fighter within the Army of Islam, a Gaza-based Salafi jihadist militant group aligned with the Islamic State. He was allegedly jailed in the past for criminal offences including drug trafficking.Members
According to sources, members of the group belonged to earlier Salafi jihadist factions that opposed Hamas, former Palestinian officers, and known criminals. As of March 2025, the group has 300 men, 50 of whom were personally recruited by Abu Shahab, while the other 250 men were allegedly recruited through the Palestinian Authority’s intelligence services.Conflict with Hamas
Due to being the Popular Forces' armed wing, official military wing/force and armed forces, the Counter Terrorism Service has been at the forefront of the Popular Forces' clashes with Hamas.On 7 December, Ghassan Duhine announced the execution of two of Hamas' members, claiming they had killed a Popular Forces member.
The Popular Forces claimed responsibility for the assassination of Ahmed Zamzam, with the Counter-Terrorism Service being the ones who carried it out.
The Counter-Terrorism Service announced a military exercise called “Ensuring the Commander-1”. The exercise lasted three days and aimed to test the CTS' readiness in emergency situations and review coordination among its ranks. The newly-appointed Chief of Staff of the Counter Terrorism Service, Khalid Abu Sneida, was also present during the exercise. During the exercise, the Popular Forces' leader, Ghassan Duhine, revealed the existence of another militia operating in western Rafah, known as the Popular Defense Forces – Khalil al-Wazir Battalion.
On 7 January 2026, the Popular Forces reported that its armed wing killed two Hamas operatives during an operation in Rafah in southern Gaza. The group stated that the two men were killed after refusing to surrender, and that a third individual was detained during the same raid. The incident was reported amid broader coverage of armed activity involving Israel-aligned local groups in Gaza, separate from direct Israeli military operations.