Ghassan Duhine
Leader of the Popular Forces
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Ghassan Duhine (Arabic: غسان الدهيني; born 3 October 1987)[4][2] is the second and current leader of the Israeli-backed Popular Forces armed group in the Gaza Strip.[5] Following the killing of the group's founder Yasser Abu Shabab in a dispute with the Abu Suneima family on 4 December 2025,[6] Duhine declared himself the new leader of the group.[7] Ghassan served as the commander of the Popular Forces' military wing Counter-Terrorism Service and formerly a senior commander to Yasser Abu Shabab.[5][8]
Ghassan Duhine | |
|---|---|
| Leader of the Popular Forces | |
| Assumed office 4 December 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Yasser Abu Shabab |
| Second-in-Command of the Popular Forces[1] | |
| In office Unknown – 4 December 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Unknown |
| Succeeded by | Unknown |
| Commander of Popular Forces' military wing Counter-Terrorism Service | |
| Assumed office 2024 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Ghassan Duhine 3 October 1987[2] |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Popular Forces administration (2024–present)
Formerly:
|
| Unit | Counter-Terrorism Service Palestinian National Security Forces (formerly) |
| Battles/wars | |
Personal life
Duhine was born on 3 October 1987 in Amman, Jordan. Duhine claims to have graduated from the Dar al-Hadith institute for Shari‘i Sciences.[9]
Public information about Duhine's early life is limited, though regional analysts generally identify him as originating from the Tarabin clan based in the Rafah area.[4][2]
According to local reporting, Duhine worked in the training branch of the Palestinian National Security Apparatus prior to the 2007 Battle of Gaza, and has been described by media outlets as a former fighter within the Army of Islam, a Gaza-based Salafi jihadist militant group aligned with the Islamic State (IS).[10][2] He was allegedly jailed in the past for criminal offences including drug trafficking.[3][2]
During the Gaza war, Duhine became the Popular Forces' second-in-command, under Yasser Abu Shabab. In December 2025, after Abu Shabab was killed, Duhin succeeded him as leader of the Popular Forces. Al Jazeera English reported that according to Palestinian media sources, Duhine may have been the group's de facto leader long before he officially succeeded Abu Shaha.[11]
Duhine refers to himself as a Salafi Muslim.[9]
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