Netanyahu Admits Israel Armed Palestinian Gang in Gaza to Undermine Hamas
Netanyahu admits use of proxy militias as looting of aid and criminal operations fuel humanitarian collapse
Occupied Palestine, PUREWILAYAH.COM - Israel has come under fire following reports and confirmed admissions that it has armed and supported a Palestinian gang operating in the southern Gaza Strip.
The group, led by Yasser Abu Shabab, has reportedly expanded its activities in eastern Rafah—an area currently under the direct control of Israeli occupation forces.
According to Haaretz and satellite imagery, the group refers to itself as the “Anti-Terror Service”, and consists of approximately 100 armed men. Far from being a legitimate force, the gang has been described as both a militia and a criminal network, accused of conducting violent operations, looting aid convoys, and spreading fear among the local population.
Israeli media, including The Times of Israel, revealed that the Netanyahu government had provided the gang with Kalashnikov rifles, some of which were reportedly seized from Hamas fighters. The operation was said to have been approved by the Israeli security cabinet and greenlit by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu himself.
Abu Shabab’s Criminal Record and Family Rejection
Abu Shabab, a Rafah native with a long-standing criminal background, has allegedly coordinated the theft of humanitarian aid and collaborated with smuggling networks linked to extremist groups in Egypt.
His presence near the Karem Abu Salem crossing—a vital point for aid entering Gaza—has sparked growing alarm among Palestinian families and humanitarian organizations.
In a rare public move, Abu Shabab’s own family issued a statement disowning him, declaring:
“We affirm that we will not accept Yasser’s return to the family... his blood is forfeit.”
This came after videos surfaced showing his militia working directly with Israeli undercover units inside the Gaza Strip.
While Abu Shabab has claimed that his group is protecting aid deliveries, Hamas officials and humanitarian witnesses have repeatedly accused his men of looting convoys and worsening the humanitarian crisis.
Netanyahu, Shin Bet Face Political Blowback
In a video message released Thursday, Benjamin Netanyahu admitted that his government had “activated” local clan forces based on the advice of Israeli security officials, presenting the move as a way to reduce Israeli military casualties while continuing the campaign to dismantle Hamas.
A follow-up statement from his office insisted that all Israeli security agencies supported this approach as part of a broader military strategy. However, the move has triggered fierce backlash even within Israeli political circles.
Avigdor Lieberman, former defense minister and current opposition lawmaker, accused Netanyahu of “arming criminals and felons associated with ISIS,” stating that such groups pose a long-term threat to both Palestinians and Israelis.
According to Ynet, senior Israeli security officials confirmed that the entire operation involving Abu Shabab’s militia was overseen by the Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security service, as part of an effort to “systematically weaken Hamas” while avoiding direct military entanglement.
Humanitarian Disaster Worsens Amidst Armed Chaos
The presence of armed gangs around aid routes has escalated the crisis on the ground. This week, several Palestinian truck drivers were killed in an attack on a convoy in central Gaza, prompting the Gaza Private Transport Association to declare a general strike.
Jihad Sleem, the association’s vice president, stated that his cousin, Mohammed al-Assar, was among those killed.
“It wouldn’t surprise me if [Abu Shabab] was involved in these attacks. He’s a gangster,” Sleem said.
Meanwhile, Jonathan Whittall, Director of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in occupied Palestine, stated in The Guardian that it is not Hamas, but gangs like Abu Shabab’s, who are responsible for the majority of aid looting in Gaza.
“The real theft of aid... has been carried out by criminal gangs, under the watch of Israeli forces,” Whittall said.
As "Israel" faces mounting accusations of weaponizing humanitarian aid, its reliance on militias and criminal proxies has fueled concerns about war crimes, collective punishment, and further destabilization of the besieged enclave. (PW)
Source: Al-Mayadeen