US Edition
Israel Armed Palestinian Militia to Fight Hamas, Officials Say
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed on Thursday that Israel is arming Palestinian clans in southern Gaza to fight Hamas.
- This move follows over 20 months of conflict with Hamas and aims to activate opposition clans, though some politicians warn it risks arming criminal gangs linked to ISIS.
- The primary beneficiary is a group headed by Yasser Abu Shabab, active in the Israeli-controlled Rafah area, which has been implicated in the theft of United Nations aid shipments amid severe food shortages in Gaza.
- Netanyahu stated the initiative "only saves the lives of Israeli soldiers," while critics say it endangers Israel’s security and may cause weapons to turn against Israeli forces.
- The arming of these clans suggests a tactical attempt to weaken Hamas but raises concerns of creating a volatile armed faction within Gaza that could complicate future security.
139 Articles
139 Articles
In Rafah, in the south of the enclave, Hamas faces the rise of a rival group, commanded by a gang leader and supported by Israel. The Islamist movement responded with a campaign of terror aimed at this opposition.
Former defence minister and opposing Benyamin Netanyahu, Avigdor Lieberman said on Thursday that the government "transfers weapons to groups of thugs and criminals".
The Israeli authorities acknowledge the support and arming of a Palestinian clan opposed to Hamas in the Gaza Strip, claiming that it serves their "goals of war" and "save lives of soldiers" engaged in the offensive against the Islamist movement in the Palestinian territory.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged that his country is supporting an anti-Hamas armed group in Gaza.
Prime Minister Netanyahu confirms that Israel supports armed militias in Gaza as a counterweight to Hamas.
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