Netanyahu defends arming Palestinian clans accused of ties with jihadist groups

[groundloop]

Source: The Guardian

The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has admitted arming clans in Gaza that he says are opposed to Hamas, after allegations that members of these criminal gangs looted humanitarian aid and have ties to jihadist groups.

The admission came after Israeli media reports quoted defence sources as saying Netanyahu had authorised giving weapons to a clan reportedly led by a man known as Yasser Abu Shabab, a Rafah resident from a Bedouin family, known locally for his involvement in criminal activity. Israel allegedly provided Abu Shabab’s group, which calls itself the “Anti-Terror Service”, with Kalashnikov assault rifles, including weapons seized from Hamas.

“On the advice of security officials, we activated clans in Gaza that oppose Hamas. What’s wrong with that?” Netanyahu said in a short video he posted on social media. “It only saves the lives of Israeli solders, and publicising this only benefits Hamas.”

Strong criticism of the initiative has come from opposition parties in Israel. In a social media post on X, Yair Golan, the leader of the Democrats in the Knesset, said: “Netanyahu is a threat to Israel’s national security. Instead of bringing about a deal … bringing the hostages home and providing security for Israeli citizens, he is creating a new ticking timebomb in Gaza.”

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jun/06/netanyahu-defends-arming-palestinian-clans-accused-of-ties-with-jihadist-groups

[brush]

1. Please, nothing is beyond warmonger and war criminal Netanyahu.

He's already declared he will stop at nothing until all the Palestinians are gone from Gaza...bomb strikes, starvation, whatever it takes.

Those gangs he's supporting better watch their backs too.

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. Opponents say Netanyahu's decision to arm "clans in Gaza" to help fight Hamas will come back to haunt Israel

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid responded to the claim that Israel is arming Abu Shabab with a warning that it could see a repeat of a grim history for the country.

For decades, including multiple terms in office for Netanyahu, Israel allowed Hamas to grow and entrench its control in Gaza, with millions of dollars in support from the Arab would pouring in. It was seen as a cynical bid to prevent a unified Palestinian leadership from taking hold in Gaza and the much larger territory of the West Bank.

"After Netanyahu finished giving millions of dollars to Hamas, he moved on to giving weapons to organizations close to ISIS in Gaza, all off the cuff, all without strategic planning, all leading to more disasters," Lapid said on social media.

"Weapons that enter Gaza will eventually be turned against IDF soldiers and Israeli citizens," he said.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/israel-hamas-war-netanyahu-arming-gangs-gaza-clans-activated/

[Eko]

3. I'm not sure what to make of this.

The US Militaries COIN or counter insurgency policy is to build support with locals to help police against the insurgents, in this case hamas. Antoher part of COIN is to take an area, create security, give aid and help create infrastructure to help the local populace. They have done some of that with the aid station but they need to follow up with the rest. So it seems that at least in that regard they are finally using the COIN strategy a little bit. I am not against Israel going against hamas, I am against them because of the huge loss of life their policies have created with very little to gain. Very easily this could come back to bite them but to me it is a much better move than bombing Gaza and killing more civilians. None of this forgives them for stopping all the other aid that was coming in at all though.

[EX500rider]

4. Yeah fairly common like the US & the Montagnard's in Vietnam

"....from a Bedouin family, known locally for his involvement in criminal activity."

Smuggling would be my guess.

[travelingthrulife]

5. nutty yahoo will bring a thousand years of reprisal against Israel for what

he is doing.