Gaza militia leader accused of collaborating with Israel killed

Friday, December 5, 2025 -Yasser Abu Shabab — the head of an Israeli-backed militia in Gaza who had been widely condemned as a collaborator and accused of aiding Israeli efforts against Hamas — has been killed, according to multiple media reports and confirmation from his group.

Abu Shabab led the armed faction known as Popular Forces, which emerged in 2024 amid heightened conflict in Gaza. The group has been accused of looting humanitarian aid convoys — the very supplies desperately needed by civilians — along with other illicit activities. He operated in areas under Israeli control in southern Gaza, most notably near Rafah, where his militia established a foothold.

According to reports, Abu Shabab was shot during what his militia described as an attempt to resolve a dispute among family members and died of his wounds after being evacuated — some accounts say in a hospital in southern Israel. 

Though internal Gaza sources deny direct involvement of Hamas in the killing, the incident nevertheless deals a serious blow to efforts by Israel to shape local power dynamics through support for anti-Hamas militias. Analysts warn the demise of Abu Shabab casts doubt on the viability of such proxy strategies, suggesting such groups lack the social legitimacy or cohesion needed to sustain influence.