Who was Yasser Abu Shabab, the Israel-backed militia leader killed in Gaza?
Abu Shabab emerged last year as the leader of an armed group in Israeli-controlled Gaza.
The death of Gaza militia leader Yasser Abu Shabab confirmed both by his Popular Forces group and Israeli media closes the story of a man who, with Israeli backing, tried to cast himself as an alternative to Hamas but was widely dismissed by Palestinians as a collaborator.
In his early 30s and from the Bedouin Tarabin tribe in southern Gaza, Abu Shabab remained largely unknown until he surfaced last year as the head of an armed faction. First branded the “Anti-Terror Service,” the group later reintroduced itself as the “Popular Forces,” a well-armed militia of more than 100 fighters operating in Israeli-controlled areas of Gaza.
Functioning somewhere between a criminal syndicate and an Israeli proxy, the group portrayed itself as a nationalist force intent on confronting Hamas. This narrative served Israel’s interests, though its long-term purpose for the militia was never fully clear especially as it became obvious the Popular Forces had no popular support.
For many Palestinians, Abu Shabab was a criminal figure. He had been jailed by Palestinian authorities on drug-related charges before escaping prison early in the Gaza war. His subsequent cooperation with Israel as its assault killed more than 70,120 Palestinians made him an outcast, even among his own tribe, which described his death as “the end of a dark chapter that does not represent the history of the tribe.”
Ideology and motives
Abu Shabab’s ideology is difficult to pin down. Many analysts argue he was motivated more by the pursuit of power than by a coherent political vision. His group’s initial “anti-terrorism” branding contrasted sharply with reports connecting him to ISIL (ISIS) networks, though these ties appear to have been based on smuggling cooperation from Egypt’s Sinai rather than shared beliefs.
There was also a stark contrast between Abu Shabab’s background and his public image. His English-language social media activity and even an opinion piece published in the Wall Street Journal painted him as a visionary leader. In that article, he claimed his Popular Forces controlled much of eastern Rafah and were “ready to build a new future,” stating their goal was to shield civilians unaligned with Hamas from the war’s devastation.
Despite his efforts to downplay ties with Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged in June that Israel was using armed clans widely understood to be Abu Shabab’s forces to fight Hamas, citing security officials’ recommendations.
Accusations of looting
The Popular Forces tried to present itself as providing security for aid distribution, particularly at sites run by the US- and Israeli-backed GHF. Abu Shabab told CNN that he led “citizens volunteering to protect humanitarian aid from looting and corruption,” and his group often released images of its fighters distributing supplies.
Yet serious accusations emerged. A confidential UN memo described Abu Shabab as “the main and most influential stakeholder behind systematic and massive looting,” and Gaza security sources told that the Israeli-backed militia had engaged in stealing from aid convoys. As famine spread across Gaza due to Israeli aid restrictions and widespread destruction, these allegations reinforced the belief that Abu Shabab was little more than an Israeli proxy.
Unsurprisingly, few in Gaza including opponents of Hamas expressed sympathy after his killing.
The exact circumstances of his death remain unclear, just like much of his background and role during the conflict. But as it became evident that he lacked both legitimacy and the capacity to serve as a real challenger to Hamas, his downfall appeared inevitable.
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