Yasser abu Shabab, leader of Israel-backed militia, killed in Gaza
Guardian1 day
Gaza Militia Leader Abu Shabab Killed in Rafah Dispute
Are anti-Hamas resistance militias protecting civilians, or are Israeli-backed criminal gangs sowing division?
Above: Civilians at the Nuseirat camp for displaced Palestinians in the central Gaza Strip on Dec. 4, 2025. Image credit: Eyad Baba/AFP/Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-Israel narrative
Anti-Hamas militias in Gaza represent ordinary Palestinians fighting back against terrorist oppression and looting. These groups protect civilians, distribute aid and offer hope for a future without extremism. Hamas responds with executions and torture because it fears losing control to popular movements that reject violence.
Anti-Israel narrative
Israeli-backed militias are criminal gangs with no legitimate support, imposed through colonial divide-and-rule tactics. Abu Shabab was a convicted drug trafficker armed by Israel to spark civil war among Palestinians. Even his own clan banished him for collaboration, proving that leadership cannot be manufactured by outside powers.