According to a report by CNN News, on Thursday December 4, 2025, Hamas has issued a stark warning to those cooperating with Israel following the death of Yasser Abu Shabab, leader of an Israeli-backed anti-Hamas militia in Gaza, though the militant group stopped short of directly claiming responsibility for killing him.
Abu Shabab, who commanded the “Popular Forces” militia controlling territory in Rafah, was killed Thursday under circumstances that remain disputed. His organization stated he died while attempting to mediate a family dispute in a public square, while Israeli sources described the incident as stemming from “internal clashes.”
Hamas, which had previously threatened Abu Shabab, labeled him a traitor but did not explicitly acknowledge responsibility for his death. The militant organization declared he met “the inevitable fate of anyone who betrays their people and homeland, agreeing to be a pawn for the Occupation.” In a formal statement, Hamas praised those who condemned Abu Shabab and others “collaborating” with Israel. “We emphasize that the Occupation, just as it failed to protect its agents, cannot protect any of its collaborators,” the group added.
The Popular Forces vigorously disputed any Hamas involvement in their leader’s death, issuing a statement that strongly denied “any and all misleading reports suggesting that he was assassinated by thugs from the terroristic gang Hamas,” claiming the group was “way too weak to take out the General Leader.”
Images circulating on Gaza messaging platforms showed some Palestinians celebrating Abu Shabab’s death, with one picture marking his face with a red “X” and using derogatory language.
Abu Shabab’s death represents a potential setback to Israel’s unclear post-war governance strategy for Gaza. The early-30s leader had been gradually expanding his influence in southern Gaza, attempting to establish a Hamas-free zone. Israeli authorities had positioned his militia as a counterweight to Hamas’s rule.
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