Pro-Israel, Anti-Hamas, Militia Leader Is Killed in Gaza

 

“The head of the most prominent anti-Hamas militia backed by Israel in Gaza has been killed, removing a key figure in a policy to build up armed alternatives to the group.

 

Yasser Abu Shabab, the young leader of a militia called the Popular Force, which holds sway in a slice of the southern Gaza city of Rafah, was fatally shot while intervening in a Palestinian clan dispute, his militia said Thursday. Israeli security officials said he succumbed to wounds suffered during fighting among Gaza clans.

 

Abu Shabab had little prior presence in Gaza's political scene, and was accused by Hamas and humanitarian officials of looting aid convoys. He began appearing openly this year with new gear and weapons, and voicing aspirations to challenge the militant group and transform the enclave.

 

He and his men were supplied arms by Israel, The Wall Street Journal reported, and some civilians were believed to be living under his rule.

 

Abu Shabab and his militia posted anti-Hamas commentary and videos touting their strength. He had told the Journal that he "took over" aid in Gaza to provide food for the people under his protection who live near Rafah.

 

Abu Shabab's death highlights the complexity of Israel's strategy of building up armed Palestinian resistance to Hamas to diminish their power. Militias like the one led by Abu Shabab tend to be small, prone to infighting and lack the organizational strength or broader support from the Gaza population needed to build themselves into a genuine counterweight to Hamas. Some have been associated with looting and crime, and many Palestinians in Gaza have welcomed Hamas's crackdown on rivals.

 

There is little evidence the strategy is making a dent in Hamas's hold on Gaza, and some Israeli analysts think it will fail given the lack of organic support. Others see it as the only alternative to Hamas.

 

Hamas cheered Abu Shabab's death.” [1]

 

1. World News: Anti-Hamas Militia Leader Is Killed in Gaza. Peled, Anat; Lieber, Dov.  Wall Street Journal, Eastern edition; New York, N.Y.. 06 Dec 2025: A7.