Death of commander of Popular Forces is blow to Israel’s efforts to confront Hamas through proxy groups

The leader of a Israeli-backed militia in Gaza has been killed, dealing a major blow to Israel’s efforts to build up its own Palestinian proxies to confront Hamas.

Yasser abu Shabab, a Bedouin tribal leader based inside the Israeli-held zone of the devastated territory, is thought to died from wounds sustained in a violent clash with powerful and well-armed local families, according to local media and sources in Gaza.