{{Short description|Hamas commander (1973–2025)}} {{distinguish|Mohammed Shabana}} {{pp-extended|small=yes}} {{Infobox officeholder | birth_date = {{Birth date text|1973}} | birth_place = Rafah, Gaza Strip | death_date = {{Death date and age|2025|5|13|1973|||df=yes}} | death_place = Gaza European Hospital, Khan Yunis, Gaza Strip | native_name = {{nobold|محمد شبانة}} | native_name_lang = ar | allegiance = {{flag|Hamas}} | branch = {{armed forces|Hamas}} | rank = Commander | office1 = Commander of the Rafah Brigade | term_start1 = 21 August 2014 | term_end1 = 13 May 2025 | succeeded1 = | preceded1 = Raed al-Atar | death_cause = Assassination by airstrike | battles = {{tree list}} ** 2014 Gaza War ** 2021 Gaza War ** Gaza war *** October 7 attacks *** Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip {{tree list/end}} | image = Mohammed Shabana Abu Anas.png }}
'''Muhammad Shabaneh''' ({{langx|ar|محمد شبانة}}{{lrm}}; 1973 – 13 May 2025), also known by his nickname '''Abu Anas''' ({{langx|ar|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.<ref name="aljazeera20240524">{{Cite web |title=إعلام إسرائيلي: الجيش يخفق في اغتيال قائد لواء رفح محمد شبانة |url=https://www.aljazeera.net/news/2024/5/24/%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%AC%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8014-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%A6%D9%8A%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%AA%D9%82%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AA |access-date=2024-10-17 |website=الجزيرة نت |language=ar}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-08-12 |title=Postman helped IDF assassinate Hamas leader Mohammed Deif, Arab report claims |url=https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-814464 |access-date=2024-10-17 |website=The Jerusalem Post |language=en |issn=0792-822X}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://x.com/orfialkov/status/1722528071691972984|title=x.com}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2025/5/14/live-israel-attacks-gaza-hospitals-as-trump-says-working-to-end-war-soon?update=3709326|title=Israel's latest attacks on Gaza hospitals killed at least 28 people|date=13 May 2025|website=Al Jazeera}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ravid |first=Barak |date=2025-05-13 |title=Israel targets top Hamas commander in strike on hospital bunker |url=https://www.axios.com/2025/05/13/israel-hospital-strike-hamas-sinwar-gaza |access-date=2025-05-13 |website=Axios |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2025-05-13/ty-article-live/palestinians-photojournalist-who-documented-october-7-attacks-killed-in-israeli-airstrike/00000196-c77d-dce0-abfe-ff7df3f20000?liveBlogItemId=1127734776&utm_source=site&utm_medium=button&utm_campaign=live_blog_item#1127734776|title=IDF and Shin Bet carry out strike in southern Gaza, target Hamas leader Mohamad Sinwar, brother of Yahya Sinwar|date=13 May 2025|website=Haaretz}}</ref> According to the Saudi channel Al-Hadath, Shabaneh's body was recovered from the tunnel along with Sinwar.<ref name="timesofisrael20250518">{{Cite web |last1=Yohanan |first1=Nurit |others=ToI Staff |last2=Fabian |first2=Emanuel |title=Hamas leader Muhammad Sinwar's body said found in Gaza tunnel hit by IDF last week |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/hamas-leader-muhammad-sinwars-body-said-found-in-gaza-tunnel-hit-by-idf-last-week/ |access-date=2025-05-18 |website=The Times of Israel|date=18 May 2025 |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Biography ==
=== Hamas === Shabaneh was born in Rafah in 1973.<ref>https://ecfr.eu/special/mapping_palestinian_politics/mohammed-shabana/</ref> Even before his appointment as commander of the Rafah Brigade, during Operation Cast Lead on December 31, 2008, according to Palestinian reports, the IDF attacked his home in the Shabora neighborhood in Rafah, but Shabaneh was not injured.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-01-02 |title=מבצע "עופרת יצוקה" – עדכון מס' 5 |url=https://www.terrorism-info.org.il/he/18357/ |access-date=2024-10-17 |website=מרכז המידע למודיעין ולטרור על שם אלוף מאיר עמית |language=he}}</ref>
After the death of Raed al Atar during Operation Protective Edge in 2014, Shabaneh was appointed to replace him as the commander of the Rafah Brigade.<ref>{{Cite news |last=לוי |first=אליאור |date=2016-07-10 |title=פחות רקטות, יותר מנהרות: חמאס מתכונן לצוק איתן 2 |url=https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-4825408,00.html |access-date=2024-10-17 |work=Ynet |language=he}}</ref>
=== During the Gaza War === In the first two days following Hamas' surprise attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, two of Shabaneh's sons, Abd al-Nasser and Mahmoud, who were members of the Nukhba Force of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, were killed.<ref>{{Cite web |title=בניו מחבלי נוח'בה שנהרגו, הוא ניצל מניסיונות חיסול: זה מח"ט רפיח שהיה היעד לתקיפות בעיר |url=https://www.israelhayom.co.il/news/defense/article/15734127 |access-date=2024-10-17 |website=www.israelhayom.co.il}}</ref>
According to Palestinian reports, on December 20, 2023, the IDF attempted to kill him by attacking the Shabaneh family home in eastern Rafah, but Mohammad Shabaneh survived unharmed.
His eldest son, Anas, was also killed on May 18, 2024, in battles with the IDF in the Al-Tannur neighborhood of Rafah.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kan.org.il/750725|title=דיווחים בעזה על חיסולו של אנס שבאנה, בנו של מפקד חטיבת רפיח בחמאס, מוחמד שבאנה}}</ref>
On May 24, 2024, another assassination attempt was made when a tunnel containing an underground complex where he was believed to be hiding was attacked, but Shabaneh survived.<ref name="aljazeera20240524" /><ref>{{Cite news |last1=יהושוע |first1=יוסי |last2=זיתון |first2=יואב |last3=חלבי |first3=עינב |date=2024-05-24 |title=דיווח: ניסיון לחסל את מח"ט חמאס ברפיח - דקות לאחר הפסיקה בהאג |url=https://www.ynet.co.il/article/bjrod4rqc |access-date=2024-10-17 |work=Ynet |language=he}}</ref>
== Assassination == {{Main|2025 Gaza European Hospital strikes}}
On May 13, 2025, reports emerged that Shabaneh was killed alongside the de facto leader of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Mohammed Sinwar, in an Israeli airstrike on a bunker under the Gaza European Hospital in Khan Yunis.<ref name="timesofisrael20250518" />
On May 31, 2025, the IDF and Shin Bet confirmed that Shabaneh had been killed in the airstrike.<ref>{{cite web |last=Fabian |first=Emanuel |title=IDF, Shin Bet confirm Hamas leader Muhammad Sinwar killed in May 13 strike on tunnel under south Gaza hospital |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/idf-shin-bet-confirm-hamas-leader-muhammad-sinwar-killed-in-may-13-strike-on-tunnel-under-south-gaza-hospital/ |website=The Times of Israel |date=May 31, 2025 |access-date=May 31, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Israeli military says it killed Hamas military leader Mohammed Sinwar on May 13 |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israeli-military-says-it-killed-hamas-military-leader-mohammed-sinwar-may-13-2025-05-31/ |website=Reuters |date=May 31, 2025 |access-date=May 31, 2025}}</ref> Hamas confirmed Shabana's death on December 29, 2025.<ref>{{Cite news|date=29 December 2025|title= Hamas' armed wing confirms deaths of figures Israel earlier said it killed|url= https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/12/29/hamas-armed-wing-confirms-deaths-of-figures-israel-earlier-said-it-killed-2|work=Al Jazeera|access-date=29 December 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title= Hamas reveals new military spokesman after Abu Obaida's death|url= https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/hamas-military-wing-announces-new-spokesman-after-abu-obeida-killing|work=Middle East Eye|date=29 December 2025|last=Aladam|first=Mera|access-date=29 December 2025}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Shabana, Muhammad}} Category:1973 births Category:2025 deaths Category:Hamas leaders Category:Al-Qassam Brigades members Category:Assassinated Hamas members Category:Military personnel killed in the Gaza war