Latest news with #YisraelBeiteinu
News18
4 days ago
- Politics
- News18
Netanyahu Confirms Israel Arming Groups Opposed To Hamas In Gaza: 'What's Bad About That'
Last Updated: Israel- Hamas War: Benjamin Netanyahu defended the decision, saying, 'What's wrong with this? It saves the lives of Israeli soldiers." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that Tel Aviv is arming factions in Gaza that oppose Hamas, prompting fierce criticism and warnings from former officials as well as defence analysts. It was earlier reported that Benjamin Netanyahu personally approved the transfer of weapons to a Gaza-based group led by Yasser Abu Shabab, a controversial figure linked to a local clan in Rafah. In a video posted on social media, Benjamin Netanyahu defended the decision, saying, 'What's wrong with this? It saves the lives of Israeli soldiers. Publicising it only helps Hamas." Defence Officials Confirm Weapons Transfers Reports claimed, citing Israeli defence sources, that the weapons- primarily Kalashnikov rifles, including some seized from Hamas- were provided to the Abu Shabab group with Benjamin Netanyahu's authorisation to the clan which operates in the Rafah area, currently under Israeli military control. Earlier, Avigdor Lieberman, leader of the Yisrael Beiteinu party and former defence minister, accused Benjamin Netanyahu of bypassing cabinet approval to arm a group of 'criminals and felons, identified with the Islamic State group". He said, 'To my knowledge, this did not go through cabinet," adding that the move endangers Israeli national security. Clan Backed By Benjamin Netanyahu Accused of Looting Aid, Ties Denied The armed group, which calls itself the Popular Forces, claims its purpose is to protect humanitarian aid convoys in Gaza. However, reports suggest the faction has instead been looting those convoys. The European Council on Foreign Relations previously labelled Abu Shabab's group a 'criminal gang." Hamas has condemned the group, accusing its members of 'theft and betrayal". Meanwhile, Abu Shabab, in a statement posted online, denied receiving Israeli support, saying, 'Our weapons are simple, outdated, and came through the support of our own people." Benjamin Netanyahu 'Restless'? Former deputy IDF chief and opposition politician Yair Golan, who leads the Democrats party, called the move 'reckless." In a post on X, he wrote, 'Netanyahu is a threat to Israel's national security. Instead of securing a deal to bring home the hostages and ensuring the safety of Israeli citizens, he's creating a new ticking time bomb in Gaza." About the Author First Published:
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Netanyahu confirms Israel arming clans opposed to Hamas in Gaza
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has confirmed that Israel is arming clans in Gaza that he says are opposed to Hamas. His comments came after Israeli media reports quoted defence sources as saying Netanyahu had authorised giving weapons to one particular group in the south of Gaza. Several Israeli politicians have accused Netanyahu of endangering Israeli security. "What's wrong with this?" Netanyahu says in a short video he's tweeted. "It only saves the lives of Israeli solders", he continues - "and publicising it only helps Hamas". What the Israeli prime minister is referring to are the reports that Israel under his authorisation has been supplying weapons to a clan in Gaza led by a man called Yasser Abu Shabab. The group, which some see as a militia or a criminal gang, has presented itself as an opposition force to Hamas. It says its aim is to protect trucks bringing aid into Gaza, but critics say it is doing the opposite and is looting them. The revelations may have been brushed off by Benjamin Netanyahu, but they have the potential of developing into a serious new political scandal. Israeli defence sources had earlier confirmed to local journalists that accusations made by the opposition politician Avigdor Lieberman were correct. Lieberman, who heads the Yisrael Beiteinu party, had told the public broadcaster, Kan, that Netanyahu had unilaterally approved the transfer of weapons to the Abu Shabab clan. "The Israeli government is giving weapons to a group of criminals and felons, identified with the Islamic State group," Lieberman said. "To my knowledge, this did not go through approval by the cabinet," he added. Defence sources subsequently confirmed that Israel had been arming the Abu Shabab clan with Kalashnikov rifles, including some that had been seized from Hamas. The clan has been operating in Rafah, in an area under Israeli military control. However, Yasser Abu Shabab posted online to "categorically reject" that Israel had supplied his group's weapons. "Our weapons are simple, outdated and came through the support of our own people," he said. Hamas sources have said that Abu Shabab's activities have become an issue - with one report in an Arabic newspaper saying that the Hamas armed wing had begun carrying out assassinations of members of the clan. Netanyahu's office said that Israel "was working to defeat Hamas through various means, based on the recommendations of all the heads of the security establishment". Strong criticism of the initiative has come from Yair Golan, leader of the Democrats in the Knesset. In a social media post on X he said: "Netanyahu is a threat to Israel's national security. Instead of bringing about a the hostages home and providing security for Israeli citizens, he is creating a new ticking time-bomb in Gaza". Gaza now worse than hell on earth, humanitarian chief tells BBC US vetoes UN call for unconditional Gaza ceasefire UN calls for investigation into killings near Gaza aid distribution site
BBC News
5 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Netanyahu confirms Israel arming clans opposed to Hamas in Gaza
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has confirmed that Israel is arming clans in Gaza that he says are opposed to comments came after Israeli media reports quoted defence sources as saying Netanyahu had authorised giving weapons to one particular group in the south of Israeli politicians have accused Netanyahu of endangering Israeli security."What's wrong with this?" Netanyahu says in a short video he's tweeted. "It only saves the lives of Israeli solders", he continues - "and publicising it only helps Hamas". What the Israeli prime minister is referring to are the reports that Israel under his authorisation has been supplying weapons to a clan in Gaza led by a man called Yasser Abu group, which some see as a militia or a criminal gang, has presented itself as an opposition force to Hamas. It says its aim is to protect trucks bringing aid into Gaza, but critics say it is doing the opposite and is looting them. The revelations may have been brushed off by Benjamin Netanyahu, but they have the potential of developing into a serious new political defence sources had earlier confirmed to local journalists that accusations made by the opposition politician Avigdor Lieberman were who heads the Yisrael Beiteinu party, had told the public broadcaster, Kan, that Netanyahu had unilaterally approved the transfer of weapons to the Abu Shabab clan."The Israeli government is giving weapons to a group of criminals and felons, identified with the Islamic State group," Lieberman said. "To my knowledge, this did not go through approval by the cabinet," he sources subsequently confirmed that Israel had been arming the Abu Shabab clan with Kalashnikov rifles, including some that had been seized from clan has been operating in Rafah, in an area under Israeli military Yasser Abu Shabab posted online to "categorically reject" that Israel had supplied his group's weapons. "Our weapons are simple, outdated and came through the support of our own people," he said. Hamas sources have said that Abu Shabab's activities have become an issue - with one report in an Arabic newspaper saying that the Hamas armed wing had begun carrying out assassinations of members of the office said that Israel "was working to defeat Hamas through various means, based on the recommendations of all the heads of the security establishment".Strong criticism of the initiative has come from Yair Golan, leader of the Democrats in the Knesset. In a social media post on X he said: "Netanyahu is a threat to Israel's national security. Instead of bringing about a the hostages home and providing security for Israeli citizens, he is creating a new ticking time-bomb in Gaza".
Saba Yemen
5 days ago
- Politics
- Saba Yemen
Hamas: Zionist statements acknowledge oversight of engineering chaos and starvation
Gaza – Saba: The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) confirmed on Thursday that the statements of Yisrael Beiteinu party leader Avigdor Lieberman reveal a damning and dangerous truth: the Israeli enemy army is arming criminal gangs in the Gaza Strip. The movement said in a statement received by the Yemeni News Agency (Saba) that this official admission confirms what field events have revealed over the past months: clear coordination between gangs of thieves and collaborators with the enemy and the enemy army itself, in plundering aid and creating humanitarian crises that exacerbate the suffering of our besieged people. Whatsapp Telegram Email Print
Middle East Eye
5 days ago
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Israel opposition leader says Netanyahu arming 'equivalent of Isis' gangs in Gaza
Opposition leader Avigdor Lieberman has accused Israeli forces, under the approval of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, of arming 'crime families' in Gaza. The accusations add weight to the claim that Israel has used Palestinian gangs to disrupt the distribution of aid in the besieged enclave. Lieberman, the head of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, is a former finance minister and deputy prime minister. "Israel has provided assault rifles and light weapons to crime families in Gaza, on Netanyahu's orders," Lieberman told Israeli public broadcaster Kan on Thursday. "The weapons are being transferred to criminals and offenders and are being directed at Israel. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters 'In my opinion, it did not pass cabinet approval. The head of the Shin Bet knows, I'm not sure the chief of staff knows. We're talking about the equivalent of Isis in Gaza,' he added, referencing the Islamic State group. He added that 'no one can guarantee that these weapons will not be directed at Israel. We have no way of monitoring or tracking them.' In response, Netanyahu's office said: 'Israel is working to defeat Hamas in various ways, on the recommendation of all heads of the security establishment.' There have been several reports in recent months of Israel allegedly backing, or turning a blind eye to, armed gangs looting aid and food warehouses in Gaza. Rocks, looting, protests: How Israelis are blocking Gaza-bound aid trucks Read More » Al Jazeera Arabic's Anas al-Sharif reported in early May that Israeli forces attacked shopowners and local Gaza security teams who were attempting to protect shops from looting and chaos. Asaad al-Kafarna, a police officer in Gaza, was killed by Israeli forces near a restaurant on 2 May after pursuing armed looters accused of collaborating with Israel's military. In response to such looting by gangs, a number of influential families in Gaza published statements denouncing the scenes. 'These gangs act in alignment with the goals of the occupation,' the Madhoun family wrote at the time. In November, an internal UN memo obtained by the Washington Post revealed that gangs 'may be benefiting from a passive if not active benevolence' or 'protection' from Israeli troops. One such gang leader, according to the memo, established a 'military-like compound' in an area 'restricted, controlled and patrolled' by Israel's military. Commentators have suggested that by backing criminal gangs and targeting members of Gaza's civil administration, Israel was attempting to create a power vacuum and lawlessness. Massacres of aid seekers A CNN investigation published on Thursday concluded that the Israeli military was behind a deadly shooting of civilians seeking aid near Rafah in southern Gaza over the weekend, which killed more than 30 people. More than a dozen eyewitnesses, including those wounded in the attack, said Israeli troops shot at crowds in volleys of gunfire that occurred sporadically through the early hours of Sunday morning, the investigation said. Trump administration on the defensive after Gaza aid plan spirals into chaos Read More » Multiple videos geolocated by CNN placed the gunfire near a roundabout where hundreds of Palestinians had gathered about half a mile (800 metres) away from the militarised aid site. The Israeli military has denied its troops fired on civilians in or around the centre, and both it and the aid centre's administrator accused Hamas of sowing false rumours. The controversial US-backed initiative to distribute aid, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), said on Thursday it would not hand out any food to starving Palestinians for a second day, saying operations will only restart when maintenance and repair work at its distribution sites are complete. The suspension of the GHF's aid distribution system comes after more than 100 Palestinians were gunned down near its sites in less than a week. Earlier this week, eyewitnesses and local officials told Middle East Eye that Israeli troops opened fire directly on civilians, with many of the fatalities receiving gunshot wounds to their head or chest.
