Abu Shabab, Israeli Mercenary Commander in Rafah, Was Killed

TEHRAN (Defapress) - Israeli Army Radio reported that Yasser Abu Shabab, the commander of the Israeli-backed militias in Rafah city, was killed by an armed group. 

Israel's Channel 14 television also confirmed his death. Hallel Biton Rosen, a Zionist reporter and analyst for the network, stated: "The leader of the Gaza militia in eastern Rafah, Yasser Abu Shabab, who has cooperated with Israel in recent months and headed a group called the 'Popular Forces,' was assassinated by armed individuals."

Yasser Abu Shabab, born in 1993 in Rafah and from the Bedouin Tarabin tribe, followed a different path from a young age. He left school and turned to smuggling cigarettes and drugs. In 2015, he was arrested by Hamas on charges of organized crime and sentenced to 25 years in prison. However, he escaped from prison following the "Al-Aqsa Flood" operation in October 2023 and embarked on new activities. Abu Shbab subsequently formed a tribal armed group and, in January 2025, announced the establishment of the Popular Forces in eastern Rafah.

Initially, the group had about 100 members and later reportedly grew to 300. Some members were chosen by him, while others were recruited through the Palestinian Authority's intelligence service. He was known for his connections with Salafi-jihadi groups in Sinai and even ISIS, and held staunchly anti-Hamas positions.

Hebrew media and some Israeli officials, including Avigdor Lieberman, have acknowledged that the Zionist regime provided Abu Shabab and his group with weapons assistance. 

The group operated under the full support of the Israeli army and was involved in looting aid convoys and destabilizing aid distribution. Tel Aviv's support for this group was seen as part of Israel's strategy to counter Hamas, reduce casualties among its own soldiers, and create divisions among Palestinian groups.