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Not to be confused with Counter-Terrorism Strike Force or Counter-Terrorism Strike Force administration in the Gaza Strip.
Counter-Terrorism Service
جهاز مكافحة الإرهاب
FoundersYasser Abu Shabab †
Ghassan Duhine (WIA)
Military leaderVacant
Dates of operation2025–present
Country Palestine (Gaza Strip)
AllegiancePalestine Popular Forces administration
HeadquartersEast Rafah
Active regionsIDF-controlled areas between the yellow line and Israel-Gaza border
IdeologyAnti-Hamas
StatusActive
Size300+[1]
Means of revenueVia the IDF and Popular Forces administration
Part of Popular Forces
Allies
Opponents
Battles and wars
Flag

The Counter-Terrorism Service (Arabic: جهاز مكافحة الإرهاب, romanized: Jihaz Mukafahat Al-Irhab) is the armed wing of the Palestinian anti-Hamas group known as the Popular Forces.

The CTS was led by the Deputy Commander of the Popular Forces, Ghassan Duhine,[6][7] until the death of the Popular Forces' leader, Yasser Abu Shabab, in an ambush in December of 2025, after which Ghassan succeeded him as the leader of the Popular Forces.[8]

Background

[edit]

Societal breakdown in Gaza

[edit]
Main article: Societal breakdown in the Gaza Strip during the Gaza war

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.[9][10]

Origins

[edit]

The Popular Forces' were founded by Yasser Abu Shabab, a local clan leader,[11] gangster,[12] and former drug trafficker convicted and imprisoned by the Hamas government.[13] 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.[14]

First appointed leader

[edit]

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.[15][16] He comes from the Tarabin clan based in the Rafah area.[17][18] 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 (IS).[16][18] He was allegedly jailed in the past for criminal offences including drug trafficking.[19][18]

Members

[edit]

According to sources, members of the group belonged to earlier Salafi jihadist factions that opposed Hamas,[20] former Palestinian officers,[14] and known criminals.[21][22][23] 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.[20]

Conflict with Hamas

[edit]
Main article: Hamas–Popular Forces conflict

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.[16]

The Popular Forces claimed responsibility for the assassination of Ahmed Zamzam, with the Counter-Terrorism Service being the ones who carried it out.[24]

Equipment

[edit]

The Counter-Terrorism Service are armed with assault rifles and equipped with radios and night-vision goggles.[14] Denying being armed by Israel, Abu Shabab claimed that the Popular Forces were funded by "individual efforts and donations" and that they were armed with "primitive weapons" which were inherited from local tribes.[23]

Alleged connections to the UAE

[edit]

According to Sky News, the logo and name of the Popular Forces' military wing, the Counter-Terrorism Service, is identical to a similar group called the Counter-Terrorism Service in Yemen that has allegedly received Emirati support.[25] In response, the UAE government stated "The United Arab Emirates categorically rejects and refutes these baseless allegations" and "These claims are entirely unfounded and misrepresent the UAE's policies and actions."[26][25]

Notes

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References

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  1. ^ Shehada, Muhammad (7 June 2025). "Who Is Abu Shabab? Meet the Gaza Gangster that Israel Armed to Counter Hamas". Zeteo. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
  2. ^ "Gaza police chief, his deputy killed in Israel strike on Khan Yunis". 2 January 2025.
  3. ^ "Hamas police says it killed 12 members of Gaza's Israeli-backed Abu Shabab militia". The Times of Israel.
  4. ^ "حماس تعدم عناصر من جماعة "ياسر أبو شباب"". المشهد العربي. 28 July 2025. Retrieved 2025-07-28.
  5. ^ "Hamas executes six alleged Israel collaborators in Khan Yunis operation". Caliber. 2025-07-30. Retrieved 2025-07-30.
  6. ^ Merwe, Ben van der; Doak, Sam; Data; Unit, Forensics. "Guns, cash and American aid: Investigation reveals Israel's support for Gaza militia". Sky News. Retrieved 2025-12-03.
  7. ^ Truzman, Ahmad Sharawi, Joe (2025-10-19). "Profiles of anti-Hamas militias in the Gaza Strip". FDD. Retrieved 2025-12-04.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ "Ghassan Al-Duhaini to replace Shabab as Popular Forces head". The Jerusalem Post. 5 December 2025. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
  9. ^ "UN rights office says 'anarchy' spreading in Gaza". Reuters. 19 July 2024. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  10. ^ Sunghay, Ajith (19 July 2024). "Observations from Gaza by Head of UN Human Rights office for the Occupied Palestinian Territory Ajith Sunghay". UN Human Rights Office for the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  11. ^ "Netanyahu admits Israel backing 'criminal' groups, rivals of Hamas, in Gaza". Al Jazeera English. 5 June 2025.
  12. ^ "The gangster Israel is arming to fight Hamas". The Economist. 11 July 2025. ISSN 0013-0613.
  13. ^ Tondo, Lorenzo; Risheq, Jamal (10 June 2025). "From Gaza prisoner to 'the Israeli agent': how rise of Abu Shabab could ignite new phase of war". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077.
  14. ^ a b c AlTaher, Nada (13 June 2025). "Who are the Abu Shabab armed militia that Israel is backing in Gaza?". The National.
  15. ^ Isaacson, Gila (2025-12-06). "Anti-Hamas Militia in Gaza Chooses New Leader After Yasser Abu Shabab Dies Mysteriously". JFeed. Retrieved 2025-12-07.
  16. ^ a b c "Behind Gaza's 'yellow line,' Israel's postwar laboratory". Le Monde. 3 December 2025.
  17. ^ "من هو العميل غسان الدهيني؟". Seraj.tv (in Arabic). June 9, 2025. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  18. ^ a b c Agencies, Al Jazeera and. "Who is Ghassan al-Duhaini, Abu Shabab's successor?". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2025-12-08.
  19. ^ Sharawi, Ahmad; Truzman, Joe (2025-10-19). "Profiles of anti-Hamas militias in the Gaza Strip". FDD’s Long War Journal. Foundation for Defense of Democracies. Retrieved 2025-12-07.
  20. ^ a b Fabian, Emanuel; Yohanan, Nurit; Freiberg, Nava (5 June 2025). "Israel providing guns to Gaza gang to bolster opposition to Hamas". The Times of Israel.
  21. ^ Batrawy, Aya (21 November 2024). "A closer look at how armed gangs steal tons of aid in Gaza". NPR. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
  22. ^ Tauschinski, Jana; Tapper, Malaika Kanaaneh (20 November 2024). "How gangsters took over Gaza's aid routes". Financial Times.
  23. ^ a b Kahana, Ariel (8 June 2025). "Renegade Gaza warlord rejects Hamas control, denies Israeli ties". Israel Hayom.
  24. ^ Halabi, Einav; Zitun, Yoav (2025-12-14). "Israeli-backed militia claims responsibility for killing senior Hamas security officer in Gaza". Ynetglobal. Retrieved 2025-12-15.
  25. ^ a b van der Merwe, Ben; Doak, Sam; Alkhaldi, Celine. "Revealed: The plan for a 'New Gaza' - and the four militias Israel is backing to defeat Hamas". Sky News. Retrieved 2025-10-30.
  26. ^ van der Merwe, Ben; Doak, Sam (4 October 2025). "Guns, cash and American aid: Investigation reveals Israel's support for Gaza militia". Sky News. Retrieved 3 December 2025.