"We will create an independent civilian government that will call for peace."
Israeli media, citing informed sources, reported that Yasir Abu Shabab, the leader of the "Popular Forces" controlling eastern Rafah in southern Gaza, has been killed.
According to Israeli intelligence assessments, Abu Shabab was not killed by Hamas, but as a result of an internal conflict. However, it is not ruled out that he was eliminated "on behalf of" Hamas.
Based on available data, Hassan al-Dahini, Abu Shabab's deputy, has also been killed.
Recently, Abu Shabab stated that he and his men managed to eliminate some terrorists who ended up in the "tunnels of Rafah" and captured several Hamas terrorists. Footage of brutal interrogations of prisoners was circulated.
Yasir Abu Shabab came to prominence in June 2025, announcing that he controls eastern Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip and intends to turn it into a "Hamas-free zone." In July, Newsru.co.il managed to secure an interview with Abu Shabab (conducted by Marianna Belenkaya).
The first information about him appeared in the autumn of 2024 in Arab media in the context of the looting of humanitarian aid coming into the Gaza Strip. Some publications referred to the "Popular Forces" as a criminal group, accusing Abu Shabab of smuggling activities and links to the terrorist organization "Islamic State." He denied this.
In Abu Shabab's interview for Newsru.co.il, it was stated that the "Popular Forces" have full coordination with the Israeli army on security and civilian matters through the mediation of Mahmoud al-Habash, emphasizing that he does not act on behalf of the PA. Abu Shabab expressed the "Popular Forces'" desire to establish control over the entire Gaza Strip.
He described himself as follows: "I am a Palestinian from Gaza, born in Rafah on February 27, 1990. I am married, have seven children, and belong to the largest Bedouin tribe in Palestine – the Tarabin. I founded the 'Popular Forces' during the war, after the fateful attack on October 7, to confront the chaos and terrorism of Hamas. I worked in the construction sector from early youth until the October 7 attack... Before the war, I spent a year and eight months in the Arab Republic of Egypt and returned about two months before it started. During the war, I moved from one area for displaced persons to another... We were the first to expose the looting of humanitarian aid by Hamas. We confiscated trucks intended for their members and distributed their cargo to the displaced persons." He also stated that his brother and other members of the "Popular Forces" were killed in November 2024 after they stopped the looting of humanitarian aid by Hamas.
"We want to put an end to the conflict with Israel by reaching a stage of creating safe zones free from Hamas and armed formations. We will create an independent civilian government there that will call for peace with Israel, put an end to extremism in mosques and educational programs, and ensure coexistence for all based on respect and common interests. This is exactly what we have begun to do in the areas controlled by the 'Popular Forces' in eastern Rafah," Abu Shabab said in an interview with Newsru.co.il in the summer.
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