Yasser Abu Shabab, the leader of a Palestinian militia backed by Israel, was killed on Thursday in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, according to an Israeli security official.
The official, who shared sensitive details on condition of anonymity, said he was killed in a clash in eastern Rafah.The exact circumstances of his death remain unclear.
Mr. Abu Shabab, a Bedouin man in his 30s, was at the center of an Israeli project in Gaza to build up militias that could undermine Hamas. Israeli officials said they had provided arms to the group, but allegations that he stole scores of aid trucks earned him a notorious reputation among Palestinians.
His militia, the Popular Forces, denied receiving weapons from Israel, despite Israeli officials saying Israel provided arms to the group.
In June, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel said that the Israeli government “activated” clans in Gaza opposed to Hamas at the advice of security officials. “What’s bad about it?” he said. “It’s only good, and it only saves the lives of Israel Defense Force soldiers.”
Adam Rasgon is a reporter for The Times in Jerusalem, covering Israeli and Palestinian affairs.
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