Israel allows Abu Shabab militia to take part in Rafah crossing inspections

Israeli authorities have allowed members of the Abu Shabab militia to help inspect Palestinians entering and leaving the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt, the official Israeli broadcaster reported on Wednesday evening.

Kan TV said the militia hopes to take over this task on a permanent basis.

A photo taken earlier this week on the Gaza side of the crossing showed Ghassan al-Dahini, the leader of the Abu Shabab militia, alongside several of his members.

Reports indicate that the militia operates around the crossing, which is under Israeli responsibility, and does so with Israeli approval.

The report added that the militia may also be allowed to carry out body searches on suspected individuals entering Gaza through the crossing.

On Friday, the Hebrew newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported that Israel secretly supports armed militias in Gaza with money, weapons, and field protection to use them against Hamas. These militias also operate in areas where the Israeli army is present under the ceasefire agreement.

The newspaper said the Israeli army uses these militias for limited tactical operations, including pursuit and arrest, and for searching for Hamas fighters in tunnels or among rubble.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed in June 2025 that militias in Gaza had been armed for use against Hamas.

Last December, Israeli media reported the death of Yasser Abu Shabab, the former leader of the Abu Shabab militia, during clashes between clans in Gaza. The Tarabin tribe in Gaza, to which Abu Shabab belonged, confirmed his death and described it as closing a shameful chapter for the tribe.

On 2^nd February 2026, Israel reopened the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing, which it has controlled since May 2024, in a very limited way with strict restrictions. The initial phase of the ceasefire agreement, which began on 10^th October 2025, had planned for the crossing to reopen, but Israel had delayed this step.