The killing of Yasser Abu Shabab, leader of the most prominent Israel-aligned armed group in Gaza, has triggered significant upheaval within these militias.
The incident, which is shrouded in conflicting narratives, is being viewed as a turning point that may reshape the structure and future operations of these groups, which are active in Rafah and eastern Khan Younis.
Mr Abu Shabab's death is “a pivotal moment” in the evolution of armed groups formed to counter Hamas and pressure communities in areas under Israeli control, the Palestinian political analyst Wisam Afifa told The National.
Mr Afifa said the multiplicity of accounts about his death suggested that it stemmed from “an internal liquidation or engineered restructuring”, rather than a personal dispute, as initially claimed.
He identified three possible scenarios: a leadership struggle within the group; a targeted operation following a security breach by Hamas; or an Israeli-driven reorganisation aimed at installing new leadership.
Within hours of Mr Abu Shabab's death, Ghassan Al Dahini, a former Palestinian Authority security officer, emerged as the new commander of the militia, which operates in Rafah. According to information provided to The National by Hamas security officials in Gaza, Mr Al Dahini, born in 1987, had previously joined extremist organisations in Gaza and has long been considered a controversial figure.
A screenshot taken from a video released last month shows militia leader Yasser Abu Shabab, centre, standing next to Ghassan Al Dahini, left. Yasser Abu Shabab / Popular Forces via Reuters
His rapid ascent to the leadership has fuelled speculation about a co-ordinated internal reshuffle.
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