Foreign policy

GAZA. Hamas is taking advantage of the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip to restore its weakened power. Hamas is increasingly facing challenges from powerful local clans. An overview of the key players.

Abu Shabab Clan Yasser Abu Shabab, from the Rafah area, is considered the most prominent leader of a clan that rivals Hamas. He operates in a part of the southern Gaza Strip still occupied by Israeli forces. According to a source close to him, his group has recruited hundreds of fighters by offering attractive salaries. Hamas accuses him of collaborating with Israel, a charge he denies. His clan is a Bedouin group.