The head of an armed Palestinian faction opposing Hamas in Gaza has been killed, as reported by Israel’s public broadcaster on Thursday. This development is seen as a setback to Israeli efforts to support Palestinian clans against the militant group.
Yasser Abu Shabab, a Bedouin tribal leader based in the Israeli-held part of Rafah in southern Gaza, led the most notable of several small anti-Hamas groups that surfaced in Gaza during the conflict that began over two years ago.
Hamas labeled him a collaborator and instructed its fighters to either kill or capture him.
There was no immediate update about Abu Shabab’s status on the Facebook page of his group, the Popular Forces.
In June, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged that Israel had armed anti-Hamas clans, although few details of the policy have been disclosed since then.
Abu Shabab’s death was reported by Israeli media, including Kan, Israel’s public broadcaster, citing a security source.
Israel’s Army Radio, also quoting a security source, reported that he had died in Soroka hospital in southern Israel from unspecified wounds, but the hospital soon denied his admission there.
The reports did not specify when he died or how he sustained his reported wounds.
An Israeli government spokesperson declined to comment on the report. Hamas also refrained from commenting, according to its Gaza spokesperson. Other Israeli authorities did not immediately provide any comments.
Abu Shabab’s group has denied receiving support from Israel.
It has continued to operate in areas controlled by Israeli forces since a US-backed ceasefire was agreed upon in October.
On November 18, Abu Shabab’s group posted a video showing dozens of fighters receiving orders from his deputy to conduct a security sweep to “clear Rafah of terror,” referring to Hamas fighters believed to be hiding there.
