Anti-Hamas Militia Leader Yasser Abu Shabab Killed in Southern Gaza Amid Internal Clash & Israeli Operations

The southern Gaza Strip was the scene of significant developments recently, marked by the death of Yasser Abu Shabab, a prominent anti-Hamas militia leader. Reports from the Times of Israel, citing Israeli defense sources, confirm Abu Shabab's demise on Thursday following an “internal clash.” He was reportedly transported to an Israeli hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

Who Was Yasser Abu Shabab?

Abu Shabab, a Bedouin tribal leader, operated from Israeli-held Rafah and was at the helm of the most notable among several smaller anti-Hamas factions that emerged in Gaza during the ongoing conflict. Initial accounts from the Ynet news site, citing a senior militia source, suggested that his death resulted from a violent altercation, including gunfire, stemming from disputes among families and groups within the militia. However, a later report from Ynet, quoting an Israeli security official, indicated that Abu Shabab was allegedly beaten to death during an argument related to his group's collaboration with Israel. Hamas, which had previously branded Abu Shabab a collaborator and ordered his capture or killing, has denied any Israeli backing for his group. Despite a US-backed ceasefire in October, Abu Shabab's militia continued its operations in areas under Israeli control. A video posted on November 18 showcased dozens of his fighters receiving orders to conduct a security sweep aimed at “clearing Rafah of terror,” an apparent reference to suspected Hamas operatives.

Broader Israeli Operations in Southern Gaza

Concurrently with these events, Israeli forces maintained their extensive operations across southern Gaza. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Thursday that security forces had neutralized over 40 Hamas operatives in the region. This tally included key figures such as Mohammad Bawab, the commander of Hamas's East Rafah Battalion; Ismail Abu Labda, his deputy; Tawfiq Salem, a company commander; and Abdullah Hamad, son of a senior Hamas official. All four were reportedly killed on Sunday after being spotted emerging from tunnels in eastern Rafah and subsequently targeted by ground troops and the Israeli Air Force. Following an intelligence review, the IDF confirmed their identities and roles. Bawab and Abu Labda were specifically implicated in planning the October 7, 2023, invasion of southern Israel. Hamad served as a security officer within Bawab’s team. Elsewhere in southern Gaza, soldiers from the 7th Armoured Brigade engaged and neutralized a Palestinian operative on Thursday who had crossed the “Yellow Line,” a demarcation established by the ceasefire agreement, posing an “immediate threat” to the troops.

Hostage Returns and Future Peace Plans

In related developments, Israel confirmed the repatriation of the remains of Sudthisak Rinthalak, a Thai farmer abducted from Israel on October 7, 2023. The body of police officer Master Sgt. Ran Gvili is now the only remaining hostage held in the Gaza Strip. Looking ahead, the US President Donald Trump's peace plan outlines several stages for Gaza. These include Israel's further withdrawal from the Strip, the establishment of a transitional authority, the deployment of a multinational security force to replace Israeli military presence, the disarmament of Hamas, and the initiation of reconstruction efforts. Hamas has consistently refused to agree to demilitarization, which Israel insists is a prerequisite for the plan's advancement. Despite this impasse, the US leader expressed optimism on Wednesday, stating that phase two is “going to happen pretty soon” and that the process is “going along well.”