Palestinians in Gaza 'celebrate' killing of Israeli collaborator Yasser Abu Shabab

Celebrations erupted across Gaza and on social media on Thursday following the killing of Yasser Abu Shabab, a militia leader backed by Israel who was widely criticised by Palestinians for looting aid convoys and targeting people in the enclave.

Israel's Channel 12 reported that Abu Shabab died at the Soroka Medical Centre in southern Israel after sustaining injuries in clashes with "Gaza clans". The hospital later denied the reports. 

His militia, which calls itself the Popular Forces, said in a Facebook post that Abu Shabab was shot "as he tried to resolve a dispute" among members of the Abu Suneima family.

Throughout the two-year genocidal war on Gaza, Abu Shabab - who was previously jailed by Hamas on drug charges - cooperated with Israel and was responsible for looting aid and killing or kidnapping Palestinian civilians as well as Hamas fighters.

Following the announcement of his killing, videos began circulating on social media showing residents of Gaza and Lebanon distributing sweets whilst chanting slogans and firing celebratory gunfire.

Several social media users described his death as the fall of a "collaborator", and shared messages of relief and solidarity to all Palestinians.

"There are many traitors like Yasser Abu Shabab, but they will meet the same fate," one user wrote. "This is the fate all traitors deserve. He sold himself to the devil. Abu Shabab to hell," another added.

I've contacted some people in Gaza whose happiness is even bigger than on the day of the ceasefire as they're celebrating the killing of Yasser Abu-Shabab.

Some people told me that internet networks owners distributed free usernames to them. https://t.co/mw9gw5134f

— Abubaker Abed (@AbubakerAbedW) December 4, 2025

The Palestinian political analyst Muhammad Shehada called his killing "the beginning of the collapse of Israel's gang model," stating that no amount of arms or protection could impose a "collaborator 'leader'" on a unified Palestinian society.

Echoing a famous quote from Ghassan Kanafani, the writer Omar Hamad wrote: "When you betray your homeland, you will find no soil that shows you mercy on the day you die; you will feel cold even in death."

Meanwhile, Egyptian journalist Khaled Mahmoued wrote: "He lived as a traitor and died as an infidel... Thus ended the illusory legend of the so-called Yasser Abu Shabab, whom Israel created to strike at the Palestinian resistance."

🔴Sweets distributed in front of Khalid ibn al-Walid mosque in Ain al-Hilweh camp near Saida, celebrating the death of Yasser Abu Shabab

📽️ Video sent to L'Orient Today's correspondent pic.twitter.com/eGgdG1ABku

— L'Orient Today (@lorienttoday) December 4, 2025

Many social media users also drew parallels to old incidents involving Israeli collaborators, insisting that Abu Shabab’s fate was merely the latest chapter in a long pattern of betrayal.

"Every traitor ends up in the dustbin of history," one user said.

Others were more direct in their dismissal of the slain militia leader: "A man with no honour, no morals and no shame – he will not be missed by anyone," one account wrote, while another added: "The traitor to his homeland and his faith is nothing but a soulless shadow", an opinion that was repeated on other social media platforms.

Today, His road ended.

He will always be remembered as a traitor. Yasser Abu Shabab. pic.twitter.com/qU6WwfJ8iy

— Fayed Abushammalah. فايد أبو شمالة (@fayedfa) December 4, 2025

Justice for Saleh

Many social media users also stated that Abu Shabab's killing was long-delayed justice for the death of Saleh al-Jafarawi, the prominent Palestinian journalist and activist who was known for documenting Israel's genocidal war on Gaza.

"Today, we got justice for Saleh al-Jafarawi," one user wrote. Al-Jafarawi was killed by gunmen cooperating with Israel in early October.

"You have been avenged, Saleh, you and all those who were starved, murdered and tortured by him and his gang," another added.

Late on Thursday, a Hamas-affiliated security force in Gaza, Radaa, posted a photo of Abu Shabab on Telegram, captioned: "As we told you, 'Israel won't protect you'."

The movement's official Telegram channel also released a statement where it said: "The fate that met the perished agent Yasser Abu Shabab, who collaborated with the occupation, is the same fate awaiting anyone who betrays his people and homeland and chooses to become a tool in the hands of the occupier."