Israel-aligned anti-Hamas Gaza militia leader Yasser Abu Shabab killed

Israel-aligned anti-Hamas Gaza militia leader Yasser Abu Shabab killed

By Middle East correspondent Matthew Doran

58 minutes ago


The UN says Yasser Abu Shabab's gang has been raiding aid trucks with the apparent indifference or protection of the Israeli military. (Supplied: Facebook)



Gaza militia leader Yasser Abu Shabab, whose anti-Hamas group had been supported by Israel, has been killed after an attack in southern Gaza.

Multiple Israeli media outlets, including Army Radio, have reported the death.

They said he was taken a hospital in southern Israel for treatment, before dying from his wounds.

A spokesperson for the Israeli Prime Minister's Office said she had seen the reports, but would not comment on or confirm the killing.

His clan was based inside a part of Gaza controlled by Israeli forces, near Rafah, and reports suggested he was killed in an "internal clash".



Violent gangs have been raiding convoys of aid as they are trucked through Gaza, and behind one of the largest groups is a criminal who has reportedly been armed and protected by Israel.

A Hamas-linked Telegram channel said Abu Shabab had been killed by the Palestinian resistance, a term regularly used to describe organisations such as Hamas.

"The story about his own people shooting him and the internal clash is nonsense," the account said.

"Abu Shabab was eliminated by the resistance, and he and a large group of his spies were crushed."

Another Hamas-linked account, belonging to the Radaa Force, posted an image of him superimposed on a playing card, the ace of spades, saying "As we told you: Israel will not protect you."

Neither the Israel Defense Forces or the Shin Bet, the domestic intelligence agency, commented on the killing.

Unlikely leader helped by Israel

Abu Shabab's gang was the most high profile of the anti-Hamas militia, prompting Israel to line up to support the group and others as a way to undermine Hamas' control of the strip.

The United Nations had said his gang was among those looting aid as it entered Gaza, suggesting Israeli forces were turning a blind eye to its operations.

He had been described by security sources as uncharismatic, illiterate and an unlikely senior gang leader, before he rose to prominence.

Israeli media had previously reported that he was in a Hamas jail prior to war in Gaza beginning, and that Abu Shabab's release had been orchestrated by Israeli forces.

In June, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed those plans after criticism from his political opponents.

"On the advice of security officials, we activated clans in Gaza that oppose Hamas," he said in a video posted on social media.

"What's wrong with that?

"It only saves the lives of Israeli soldiers, and publicising this only benefits Hamas."

On Wednesday, Mr Netanyahu told the New York Times there were "Palestinians in Gaza who are fighting Hamas, because they say enough of this tyranny, this terror".

"They don't want the [Palestinian Authority], they don't want Hamas, they want to be the masters of their own destiny.

"I think we should give them a chance."

Britain's Sky News has reported at least five different gangs in Gaza are being supported by Israel.

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Shailoks supporting gangsters who robbed-looted food aid, then blamed the looting on Hamas - despicable shailoks