News | International
12 Dec 2025 10:35
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > International

    Israel-aligned anti-Hamas Gaza militia leader Yasser Abu Shabab killed

    Gaza militia leader Yasser Abu Shabab, whose anti-Hamas group had been supported by Israel, has been killed after an attack in southern Gaza.


    Gaza militia leader Yasser Abu Shabab, whose anti-Hamas group had been supported by Israel, has been killed after an attack in southern Gaza.

    Multiple Israeli media outlets, including Army Radio, have reported the death.

    They said he was taken a hospital in southern Israel for treatment, before dying from his wounds.

    A spokesperson for the Israeli Prime Minister's Office said she had seen the reports, but would not comment on or confirm the killing.

    His clan was based inside a part of Gaza controlled by Israeli forces, near Rafah, and reports suggested he was killed in an "internal clash".

    A Hamas-linked Telegram channel said Abu Shabab had been killed by the Palestinian resistance, a term regularly used to describe organisations such as Hamas.

    "The story about his own people shooting him and the internal clash is nonsense," the account said.

    "Abu Shabab was eliminated by the resistance, and he and a large group of his spies were crushed."

    Another Hamas-linked account, belonging to the Radaa Force, posted an image of him superimposed on a playing card, the ace of spades, saying "As we told you: Israel will not protect you."

    Neither the Israel Defense Forces or the Shin Bet, the domestic intelligence agency, commented on the killing.

    Unlikely leader helped by Israel

    Abu Shabab's gang was the most high profile of the anti-Hamas militia, prompting Israel to line up to support the group and others as a way to undermine Hamas' control of the strip.

    The United Nations had said his gang was among those looting aid as it entered Gaza, suggesting Israeli forces were turning a blind eye to its operations.

    He had been described by security sources as uncharismatic, illiterate and an unlikely senior gang leader, before he rose to prominence.

    Israeli media had previously reported that he was in a Hamas jail prior to war in Gaza beginning, and that Abu Shabab's release had been orchestrated by Israeli forces.

    In June, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed those plans after criticism from his political opponents.

    "On the advice of security officials, we activated clans in Gaza that oppose Hamas," he said in a video posted on social media.

    "What's wrong with that?

    "It only saves the lives of Israeli soldiers, and publicising this only benefits Hamas."

    On Wednesday, Mr Netanyahu told the New York Times there were "Palestinians in Gaza who are fighting Hamas, because they say enough of this tyranny, this terror".

    "They don't want the [Palestinian Authority], they don't want Hamas, they want to be the masters of their own destiny.

    "I think we should give them a chance."

    Britain's Sky News has reported at least five different gangs in Gaza are being supported by Israel.


    ABC




    © 2025 ABC Australian Broadcasting Corporation. All rights reserved

     Other International News
     12 Dec: Volodymyr Zelenskyy proposes Ukrainian referendum on disputed territory as Donald Trump tires of meetings
     12 Dec: TIME magazine names 'The Architects of AI' as 2025 Person of the Year, confirming leak to betting markets
     12 Dec: Amnesty International report finds Hamas committed crimes against humanity with October 7 attacks
     11 Dec: Adult content creator Bonnie Blue will be banned from Bali after studio raid involving 14 Australians
     11 Dec: Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Machado emerges from hiding to greet cheering crowds
     11 Dec: Deliberate fire-making by early humans occurred 400,000 years ago: study
     11 Dec: Bureau of Meteorology makes major changes to $96.5m website after refresh backlash
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Departing winger Sevu Reece has no doubt the Crusaders and All Blacks will thrive in his absence More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Twenty-three staff at Health New Zealand earned more than a million dollars in the last financial year More...



     Today's News

    Law and Order:
    The bus sector says violence on buses isn't rising, and Monday's fatal attack on an East Auckland bus is an extremely rare event 10:27

    National:
    King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard quit Spotify in protest, only for an AI doppelgänger to step in 10:27

    Entertainment:
    Michael Buble claims people should begin "listening to Christmas music in June" 10:20

    National:
    AI’s errors may be impossible to eliminate – what that means for its use in health care 10:17

    National:
    The social media ban is just the start of Australia’s forthcoming restrictions – and teens have legitimate concerns 10:07

    Business:
    Twenty-three staff at Health New Zealand earned more than a million dollars in the last financial year 10:07

    Law and Order:
    Former Gloriavale leader Howard Temple is about to learn his fate following his multiple sex offences 9:57

    Entertainment:
    Owen Cooper still gets "shouted at" by his teachers 9:50

    International:
    Volodymyr Zelenskyy proposes Ukrainian referendum on disputed territory as Donald Trump tires of meetings 9:36

    Auckland:
    Surf lifesavers are urging Aucklanders to be safe in the water, following four rescues and two people losing their lives in one day 9:27


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2025 New Zealand City Ltd