Muhammad Shabana
Muhammad Shabana | |
|---|---|
محمد شبانة | |
| Commander of the Rafah Brigade | |
| In office 21 August 2014 – 13 May 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Raed al-Atar |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1973 Rafah, Gaza Strip |
| Died | 13 May 2025 (aged 51–52) Gaza European Hospital, Khan Yunis, Gaza Strip |
| Manner of death | Assassination by airstrike |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Hamas |
| Branch/service | al-Qassam Brigades |
| Rank | Commander |
| Battles/wars | |
Muhammad Shabaneh (Arabic: محمد شبانة; 1973 – 13 May 2025), also known by his nickname Abu Anas (Arabic: أبو أنس), was the commander of the Rafah Brigade in the military wing of Hamas, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades. Under his command were about four battalions.
It was reported that Shabaneh had a large extended family in Sinai, Egypt. In leaflets dropped by the IDF in Gaza in November 2023, a bounty of $500,000 was offered for his capture.
In May 2025, the IDF and Shin Bet claimed that de facto leader of Hamas in the Gaza Strip Mohammed Sinwar was targeted in an Israeli airstrike on a bunker under the Gaza European Hospital in Khan Yunis. The strike killed 26 people, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. According to the Saudi channel Al-Hadath, Shabaneh's body was recovered from the tunnel along with Sinwar.