Israel arming anti-Hamas gang in Gaza
Israel is supplying weapons to a Palestinian gang in Gaza with the aim of destabilising Hamas, Benjamin Netanyahu said.
Rifles and handguns have reportedly been handed over to the Abu Shabab militia, an armed group that has been accused of looting aid and, allegedly, has links to Isis.
Based in the east of Rafah, the gang has been operating within an area that is under the direct control of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), indicating that it is doing so with Israeli consent.
The revelation comes as Israel seeks to break Hamas's control over the population of Gaza via its troubled new aid distribution mechanism and an enhanced military campaign.
Abu Shabab has members in both Gaza and Egypt and is led by Yasser Abu Shabab, who comes from a Bedouin family. His group has been accused of involvement in drug dealing and weapons smuggling from Egypt, including via the use of drones.
According to local media reports, the group, comprising roughly 100 armed men, now calls itself the 'anti-terror service'.
'Netanyahu selling Israeli security for another day in office'
The news was leaked by Avigdor Lieberman, a former defence minister, and political rival to Mr Netanyahu. He said the government was arming Isis-affiliated criminal gangs.
The Israeli prime minister admitted the claim, saying: 'In consultation with security officials, we made use of the clans in Gaza that are opposed to Hamas.
'What's wrong with that? It's only good. It saves the lives of IDF soldiers.'
Some Israeli politicians, and some in the media, have pointed out that there is no guarantee that the militia will not go on to use the weapons against the IDF, and that Israel has a mixed history of arming Palestinian factions for short-term gain.
Yair Golan, leader of the opposition Democrats, wrote on X: 'Netanyahu, who transferred billions to Hamas in suitcases full of cash [before October 7], based on the incorrect belief that Hamas is an 'asset,' is now promoting a new dangerous concept: Arming a Gazan militia with ties to ISIS.'
'Netanyahu is dangerous to Israel's security,' he said. 'This is not a mistake. This is systematic. Netanyahu is selling Israel's security for another day in office.'
Even among a population that, reportedly, is growing increasingly weary of Hamas, any suggestion of affiliation with Israel is very controversial.
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