Background
Yasser Abu Shabab
Yasser Abu Shabab was a Palestinian militant leader who led an armed group called the Popular Forces. His group controlled parts of eastern Rafah and set up a rival government against the Hamas government during the ongoing Gaza war. [7] [8] [9] [10]
He was dubbed the "Pablo Escobar of Gaza" by critics because of his past involvement in drug smuggling and his powerful role in local armed politics. [11] [12] [13]
Abu Shabab's brother, Fathi, had previously been killed by the Arrow Unit in November 2024. [14] In January 2025, Hamas executed one of his senior aides. [15] [16]
Family rejection and tribal repercussions
Abu Shabab's family disowned him for "supporting the Zionist occupation forces" and said they "have no objection to those around him liquidating him immediately". [17] Members of Abu Shabab's extended family had also dissociated themselves from him due to his collaboration with Israel. [18]
The Abu Suneima Family, which is based in East Rafah and whose members killed Abu Shabab, belong to the Tarabin Bedouin tribe, the same tribe as Yasser Abu Shabab. [19]
Previous assassination attempts on Abu Shabab
Hamas had placed Abu Shabab in their top targets for assassination, which led to them twice trying to kill him, unsuccessfully. [20] [21]
During one unsuccessful attempt to ambush and assassinate Abu Shabab, militants fired approximately 90 bullets at a vehicle they thought belonged to him. The vehicle actually belonged to Islam Hijazi, a female aid worker of charity organization named Heal Palestine and she was accidentally killed in this incident, by fighters who mistakenly thought she was Abu Shabab. [22]
In another failed attempt in November 2024, Abu Shabab survived an assassination attempt by Hamas at the European Hospital in Khan Yunis. He managed to flee but two of his associates were killed. [23]
Aftermath
Abu Shabab died of his wounds shortly before arriving at the Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba, Israel; [26] the hospital has denied that he died under their care. [27] Deputy Commander of the group, Ghassan Duhine, was also wounded in action. [2] [3] [4]
Ynet reported that Abu Shabab was killed due to an internal dispute within the Popular Forces, [28] [29] however the group itself claims that he was killed while trying to resolve a dispute in a local family. [26]
The Abu Suneima family claimed responsibility for Abu Shabab's killing. The Abu Suneima Family, which is based in East Rafah, belongs to the Tarabin Bedouin tribe, ironically the same tribe as Yasser Abu Shabab. [19]
Reactions
In an official statement, the Popular Forces had dismissed claims that Abu Shabab's death was "caused by a Hamas attack". [26] The group also claimed to continue in Yasser Abu Shabab's path. [26]
The Abu Suneima family, in its own statement, said that at least two sons from the family were responsible for ambushing and killing Abu Shabab. The family also said in its statement that Yasser Abu Shabab and his armed group, the Popular Forces, "stand outside of the values of our family" and "will face a harsh reckoning" by the family. [19]
Later on the day of the ambush, the Gaza Interior Ministry-affiliated internal security force, Quwwat al-Rada'a (also known as "The Deterrence Force"), posted a picture of Yasser Abu Shabab on its Telegram channel, captioned: "As we told you, 'Israel won't protect you'." [30] Gaza's interior ministry called Abu Shabab's death "the inevitable fate of every traitor" and urged the remaining Israeli-backed Palestinian militants to hand themselves in "before it is too late." [31]
Husam al-Astal, leader of the Counter-Terrorism Strike Force claimed that Yasser Abu Shabab was killed due personal matters or a dispute with money. [32]
Palestinians in Gaza and those in Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon celebrated Yasser Abu Shabab's death, with some handing out sweets and performing celebratory gunfire. [33] [34] [35]
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Popular Forces 