Leader of anti-Hamas militia 'killed by rival groups' in Gaza Strip

Yasser Abu Shabab, the Popular Forces commander, as well as several members from his group, were killed during an ambush by rival militia factions, reports claim.

The Reuters news agency reports the militant died of his wounds in a hospital in southern Israel.

The Popular Forces, which has received massive Israeli backing in recent months, has been positioned as the future government of the Gaza Strip.

Read more: Israel carries out further airstrikes in southern Gaza as four IDF soldiers injured in attack

The Popular Forces, which has received massive Israeli backing in recent months, has been positioned as the future government of the Gaza Strip.

Its forces have grown considerably in the wake of the Gaza ceasefire deal, swelling to around 3,000.

The militia controls a strategically important area where aid trucks must travel when entering Gaza through the Kerem Shalom crossing - known as “Looters Alley.”

It comes Hamas said it would hand over the remains of a hostage as Israel announced it will start letting Palestinians leave Gaza through the Rafah border crossing, signs the US-backed ceasefire was holding despite an earlier issue over returned remains.

Hamas said it would return the newly discovered remains on Wednesday, but it was not immediately clear to whom they belonged. Only two hostages are believed to remain in Gaza and the first phase of the deal is supposed to end when both are returned.

The deal calls for the long-closed Rafah crossing to be opened for medical evacuations and travel to and from the strip. The World Health Organisation says there are more than 16,500 sick and wounded people who need to leave Gaza for medical care.

An Israeli official told The Associated Press that Rafah would be open only for Palestinians to exit Gaza, not enter. Egypt, which controls the other side, said the crossing would open only if movement goes both ways.