Popular Forces administration in the Gaza Strip


During the Gaza war, the Popular Forces, an anti-Hamas, Israeli-backed, and allegedly Islamic State-linked armed group, has claimed control over large amounts of the Gaza Strip that are currently under Israeli military occupation. This was the first area in Gaza not administrated by Hamas since 2007.
More than 2,000 Palestinian civilians live in the Popular Forces' territory, according to the group's then-leader Yasser Abu Shabab.
The group claims control of Al-Bayuk as its headquarters, eastern Rafah, Khan Yunis, western Rafah, and humanitarian aid routes near the Kerem Shalom border crossing. It says it has freedom of movement in the wider Rafah area. Furthermore, the Popular Army – Northern Forces, which reportedly operates as part of the Popular Forces, has claimed control over several areas in northern Gaza.

Background

Before the war, the land presently administrated by the Popular Forces belonged to the Tarabin Bedouin tribe, of which Yasser Abu Shabab was a member.
The last attempt at a large-scale armed revolt against the Hamas government in Gaza was in 2009, when Jund Ansar Allah, a Gazan Salafi jihadist group, engaged in clashes with Hamas forces after declaring the establishment of an Islamic emirate in Gaza.

History

In Southern Gaza

In East Rafah

In late May 2025, the Rafah Governorate came under full Israeli operational control following its successful Rafah offensive against Hamas, in which the Popular Forces participated. As of 27 June, the group was reportedly in control of eastern Rafah, enjoyed freedom of movement in the wider Rafah area, and was working on building an independent administration. By August, The Washington Post was describing the Popular Forces as "the de facto authority in southeastern Gaza".
On 24 July, The Wall Street Journal published an opinion piece written by Abu Shabab, where he called on the United States and Arab countries to recognize the Popular Forces' administration. He also claimed armed patrols were providing security and that civilians in the area were enjoying a better quality of life, untouched by the humanitarian crisis elsewhere in Gaza.
+972 Magazine claimed that shortly before his death, Abu Shabab was discussing a plan with current leader Ghassan Duhine to form a "transitional government of East Gaza", modeled loosely on Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces.

In West Rafah

On 20 December 2025, the Popular Forces' armed wing, Counter-Terrorism Service, announced a military exercise called “Ensuring the Commander-1” which was aimed to test the CTS' readiness in emergency situations and review coordination among its ranks. 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.

In Khan Yunis

Shawqi Abu Nasira's group, the Free Homeland Forces, which reportedly operates as part of the Popular Forces, is headquartered in Eastern Khan Yunis, though it operates in both Rafah and Khan Yunis.

Public services

After consolidation of Popular Forces control, Abu Shabab began launching a recruitment drive to staff “administrative and community committees,” including doctors and nurses, engineers, primary schoolteachers and public relations experts. The Popular Forces began setting up checkpoints in Israeli occupied territory to screen convoys of international aid workers entering Gaza, and claimed they were providing security to aid trucks. Abu Shabab also said that they have built schools, health centers and other civilian infrastructure, Sky News similarly reported that medical facilities, a school, and a mosque have been built by the Popular Forces.

In Northern Gaza

On 14 October, the Popular Army – Northern Forces claimed it had taken control of several areas in northern Gaza, and warned Hamas forces against approaching their territories. Its flag featuring the logo of PANF, is displayed on its vehicles and facilities within its territory.