Hamas defends attack on GHF bus as 'security campaign' against Israeli-backed militia

Hamas says it launched a major security and military operation in the Gaza Strip targeting a militia led by Yasser Abu Shabab, whom it accuses of collaborating with Israel's Shin Bet intelligence agency.

Speaking to The New Arab on condition of anonymity, security sources said that the al-Qassam's "Arrow Unit" killed about 25 militants and arrested several others, including high-ranking commanders, who were all allegedly linked to Israel, over the course of the past few days.

"The goal is to eliminate all cells cooperating with [Israel] inside Gaza," the sources added, emphasising, "Operations will continue until this is achieved."

"We are dealing with a highly dangerous network that has embedded itself within civilian infrastructure and attempts to destabilise the security from within the Strip. We cannot allow such threats to persist," the sources explained.

The crackdown follows a deadly attack Wednesday night on a bus operated by the "Gaza Humanitarian Foundation" (GHF), leaving five dead and tens of others wounded.

Footage shared on Telegram showed bodies of militia members after apparently field executions by Hamas, evoking memories of past purges of collaborators during the intifadas. The New Arab could not verify the videos' authenticity. 

Hamas denied targeting civilians and asserted that militants used the bus under the guise of humanitarian workers.

Security officials in Gaza claim the US-backed GHF is a "front for espionage and coordination with Israeli intelligence."

A Turkey-based Hamas official remarked to TNA that Abu Shabab's militia was funded and guided by Shin Bet, with many of its members being former criminals recruited for covert operations.

"We won't allow a repeat of the experience in southern Lebanon, where militias became tools of the occupation," the Hamas official declared.

Yasser Abu Shabab recently appeared in a controversial video, claiming his militia aimed to "liberate areas from Hamas rule."

He claims to have cooperation with the Palestinian Authority (PA) and justified operations in Israeli-controlled zones.

However, the PA denied his claims, stressing that he is "a spy for Israel".

Meanwhile, the families of the militia's members disowned their sons, calling for them to be fought and killed.

The Israeli newspaper Maariv reported that Shin Bet was behind the creation of Abu Shabab’s militia, calling it a tactic to destabilise Hamas rule. Most group members reportedly came from a single extended family with criminal records.

In a provocative development, i24NEWS cited Israeli military sources confirming that the IDF conducted a drone strike targeting Hamas operatives pursuing Abu Shabab fighters, marking Israel's first open military action in support of the militia.

The events have triggered unease among Gaza residents, raising fears of internal instability and escalating violence. 

For his part, Fadi Abdullah, a 33-year-old Khan Yunis man, strongly supported Hamas's actions.

"These people are traitors using humanitarian work as a cover," he argued to TNA.

"Any country would punish those who conspire with foreign enemies. These collaborators not only betray the resistance, but also endanger ordinary civilians by inviting Israeli retaliation," he said.

"The Israeli army killed two members of my family in the war, and it enrages me to think that people among us are selling information to the enemy for money. What Hamas is doing is not just justified; it’s necessary," he added.

Samer Barakat, a 41-year-old man from Gaza City, offered a more nuanced view. "I'm no fan of Hamas and have criticised their governance for years, but in this case, I believe they are acting in the interest of national security," he said to TNA.

"We cannot allow rogue groups, no matter what their cover, to collaborate with the occupation. That sets a dangerous precedent for our entire society," he added. "The real tragedy is that the lack of unity and the absence of a political horizon are driving people into these desperate and dangerous paths. The militias fill a void left by failed leadership."

Mariam al-Majdalawi, a 29-year-old young woman from Gaza City, echoed similar concerns. "This crisis is a symptom of a deeper political disease," she said from her tent in Gaza City.

"As long as the Palestinian division continues, and young people see no future, these kinds of groups will keep emerging. We are producing militias instead of solutions," she added.

She believes using force might temporarily eliminate the symptom, but it won't cure the cause.

"We need reconciliation, a clear political vision, and real opportunities for youth. Otherwise, this cycle of violence will keep repeating itself, and it’s always the civilians who pay the price," she stressed.

The escalation comes amid worsening humanitarian and political conditions in Gaza. Over two million residents suffer under a prolonged Israeli blockade, limited reconstruction, and a paralysed political process.

The ongoing division between Fatah and Hamas has further obstructed efforts for national unity.

Hamas officials maintain that they will not allow any armed group to operate within the Strip on behalf of foreign agendas. But many fears that, without a broader political breakthrough, the current campaign may deepen societal rifts.

"Every internal crackdown, even if justified, adds another layer of fear and division," Radi Kamal, who is displaced in Deir al-Balah, told TNA. "What we need isn't just security operations. We need national healing."

Yet, Kamal is braced for the possibility of more violence. "We all want safety, but we also want justice. If people are plotting with the enemy, they must stop. But I hope one day we won't need guns to solve our problems," he grimly added.