Yasser Abu Shabab, the head of the Popular Forces Militia in the Gaza Strip, said Sunday that his group would continue fighting the Hamas terrorist organization even if a ceasefire agreement is reached between Israel and Hamas.
Speaking to the Arabic-language public broadcaster Makan Radio, Abu Shabab said, "The armed group I lead will continue to fight Hamas, even if a ceasefire is achieved."
His remarks came hours after the joint operations room of the Palestinian terrorist factions in Gaza issued an unusual statement declaring Abu Shabab's blood "permitted," effectively calling for his assassination. The statement, published on behalf of a joint body led by Hamas and comprising Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, cells from the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, and other groups, accused Abu Shabab and his fighters of betraying the Palestinian cause.
"Yasser Abu Shabab and his gang are a group outside the ranks of our homeland," the statement read. "They have completely abandoned their Palestinian identity. Their blood is permitted for all resistance factions. We will show no mercy to any of them and will treat them as traitors and collaborators."
The factions added that "the fate of traitors is the garbage heap of history, along with shame and disgrace before God, their people, and their nation. They will be left behind. This is the chorus that repeats the miserable end of all traitors and collaborators throughout history."
In his interview with Makan, Abu Shabab responded defiantly to the threats, saying Hamas is "in the final stages before its elimination."
"We've tasted the bitterness and injustice inflicted on us by Hamas, and we have taken it upon ourselves to confront this aggression," he said, adding that his group supports "any legitimate force that adopts the idea of removing injustice and corruption in Gaza." He said his organization receives logistical and financial support from multiple sources but declined to name them.
Abu Shabab said his group is primarily active in southern Gaza, especially in the Rafah area, which remains under full Israel Defense Forces control.
"Instead of issuing arrest warrants and holding sham trials, Hamas should be judging itself," he said. "They should try those responsible for the October 7 massacre, because they are the ones who brought disaster on our people, who caused civilians to be persecuted and innocent people to be murdered. As far as I'm concerned, their threats and their kangaroo courts don't faze me at all. I don't count them. Hamas is nothing more than an illusion, just a blown-up balloon. Hamas is fighting its last battles, and it knows the deal has already been made."
Addressing the reported truce proposal and hostage deal being considered by Hamas and Israel, Abu Shabab said, "Even if a ceasefire takes place, we will continue our operations, even if it comes at a heavy price. We are not bound by the ceasefire. That is Hamas' business with the State of Israel, with the military. If they want to sign a deal or retreat, that's their problem, it belongs to them."
He added, "Our actions stem from what is on our shoulders. We haven't tied ourselves to any ceasefire, to any deal, or to anything else, because we have objectives that must be achieved. Yes, whether there is a ceasefire or not, our project is one: to eliminate you and pursue you wherever you are. We have no connection to any agreement. We are on the ground. Our only slogan: to eliminate this injustice and to hunt it down, even if there is a deal."
