Israel backs two new armed gangs in Gaza
The two armed groups are said to be operating in Khan Younis and Gaza City and are affiliated with the Palestinian Authority (PA), a political rival of Hamas.
They follow in the footsteps of the gang led by Yasser Abu Shabab - a former criminal prisoner-turned-militia leader - who has coordinated with Israeli forces in Rafah to loot humanitarian aid and shoot at Palestinians.
In addition to receiving arms and support from Israel, members of the two new gangs are allegedly on the payroll of the PA, due to their affiliations with Fatah, the movement that dominates the PA.
One of the groups is reportedly led by Rami Khalas, a Fatah member from Gaza.
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The gang operates in the Shujaiya neighbourhood of Gaza City and is said to belong to the Khalas clan, one of the largest families in the Gaza Strip, with most of its members residing in eastern Gaza.
According to Ynet, Rami Khalas lives in the Tel al-Hawa area in southwestern Gaza City.
'He and his men have a lot of weapons and, according to sources, receive cover and protection from the IDF,' the report said, referring to the Israeli military.
The second gang, operating in Khan Younis, is reportedly headed by Yasser Khanidak, another local Fatah member who reportedly opposes Hamas rule in the territory.
Like the Khalas group, Khanidak's men are said to receive Israeli weapons and financial backing from the PA.
"As Israel identifies opportunities to operate local anti-Hamas forces, it may continue to deepen such cooperation," said the report of the possibility that Israel would further expand cooperation with gangs in Gaza.
'What's wrong with that?'
Last month, it was revealed that Israel had armed and financed the Abu Shabab gang, in what appeared to be an Israeli strategy to foster instability in the besieged Gaza Strip.
Hamas on Wednesday issued a 10-day ultimatum to Yasser Abu Shabab, the gang's leader, demanding he surrender to authorities in Gaza.
Hamas has accused Abu Shabab of treason, collaboration with hostile entities, forming an armed militia, and inciting armed rebellion.
'Popular Forces': Who are the Gaza gangsters being armed by Israel? Read More »
Following public exposure of Israel's links to the gang, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the move.
'We made use of clans in Gaza that are opposed to Hamas... What's wrong with that?' he said in a post on X (formerly Twitter). 'It's only good. It saves the lives of Israeli soldiers.'
The Abu Shabab gang has also been linked to the widely criticised aid scheme operated by the Israeli- and US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which began limited food distribution in May.
Since then, Israeli forces have killed at least 600 Palestinians and wounded over 4,000 wounded at or near GHF aid points, according to the Palestinian health ministry.
Last week, Haaretz reported that Israeli military officials admitted firing on unarmed civilians queuing for aid, even when no threat was present.
Soldiers said they had been instructed to shoot at crowds near distribution sites and confirmed that civilians had been killed due to "inaccurate and uncalculated" artillery fire.
On Wednesday, the PA revealed that US security contractors working with the GHF also fired live rounds and stun grenades at hungry Palestinians attempting to collect aid.
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