Gaza Militia Leader Yasser Abu Shabab Killed Amidst Hamas Conflict
Khan Younis, Gaza – Yasser Abu Shabab, leader โฃof the Popular โฃForces militia โin Gaza,โ has been โconfirmed dead, according to his group. The death follows earlier reportsโค in Israeli media citing anonymous sources.Abu Shabab’s group claims he was โkilled in a dispute โฃwith “another family,” while Israeli security sources suggest a shootout withโฃ a rival militia.However, Soroka Medical Center in southern Israel, where he was reportedly pronounced dead, disputes having treated him.
Abu Shabab commandedโ approximatelyโ 300 armed men, primarily from aโข Bedouin tribe, and operated in South Gaza, an area with a meaningful Israeli army presence. The โฃPopular Forces has been fighting Hamas, and was labeled a traitor by the group, โขwho celebrated his death. A Hamas special unit posted a message stating, “We saeid it, Israelโข will not protect you.”
The Popular Forces โhas received funding and weapons fromโ Israel, which has supported the group as partโ of a strategy to weaken Hamas.Recent days have seen heavy fighting in and โaround Rafah, where the militia is active, with theโฃ Israeli army reporting 40 Hamas militants killed and โคfour Israeli soldiers injured. The ceasefire โbetween Hamas and โคIsrael is reportedly being widely violated.
Haaretz reports that Abuโ Shabab and some of his men haveโฃ alleged โlinks to the Islamic State terrorist group. The Popular Forces has also been accused of stealing humanitarian aid intended for civilians โin South โGaza, allegations Abu Shabab partially denied, claiming his fighters did not target aid meant for children โand asserting he provided additional assistance to residents.
