Who is Ghassan al-Duhaini, Abu Shabab’s successor?

Al JazeeraEN 4 min read 100% complete by Al Jazeera and AgenciesDecember 8, 2025 at 10:20 AM

AI Summary

long article 4 min

Following the death of Yasser Abu Shabab, Ghassan al-Duhaini has been named the new leader of the "Popular Forces" militia in Rafah. Al-Duhaini, 39, is reportedly a long-time operational leader within the group, despite Abu Shabab being the public face. Born in Rafah in 1987 and a member of the Tarabin Bedouin tribe, al-Duhaini was previously an officer in the Palestinian Authority security forces and later joined Jaysh al-Islam. After assuming command, al-Duhaini pledged to continue the militia's campaign against Hamas, stating he has no fear of the group. The "Popular Forces" released a video showing al-Duhaini inspecting his fighters to demonstrate their continued operation.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Gaza Strip ×270% Hamas ×380% Ghassan al-Duhaini ×5100% Yasser Abu Shabab ×4100%

Keywords

ghassan al-duhaini 100% popular forces 90% hamas 90% yasser abu shabab 80% militia leader 70% gaza 60% rafah 60% palestinian authority 50% armed faction 50% conflict 40%