Israel Supporting ‘Criminal’ Groups, Netanyahu Confirms
This marks the first time Israel has acknowledged using armed gangs, which aid organizations have accused of looting aid from trucks
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has admitted that the country is utilizing armed gangs in Gaza to aid in the fight against Hamas. His statement followed a fresh wave of military strikes on the besieged enclave, which reportedly killed at least 52 Palestinians.
In a video posted to X on Thursday, Netanyahu revealed that the government had “activated” powerful local clans within Gaza, based on recommendations from security officials. His admission came shortly after former Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman publicly accused him of employing this controversial strategy.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly acknowledged, for the first time, that his government is supporting armed Palestinian groups in Gaza, specifically powerful local clans accused by aid workers of criminal activity including looting humanitarian aid as famine threatens the entire enclave under Israel’s ongoing blockade.
In a video message posted on X, Netanyahu said that Israeli security officials had advised activating these local clans to assist in the fight against Hamas. His statement followed a deadly wave of Israeli airstrikes on Thursday that killed at least 52 Palestinians, marking a new escalation in the months-long assault on the besieged territory.
The admission came after former Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman accused Netanyahu of employing the controversial strategy. An Israeli official cited by the Associated Press confirmed that one of the groups involved is the so called Popular Forces, led by Yasser Abu Shabab, a prominent clan leader in Rafah.
Last month, Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported on this group referring to it as the “Anti-Terror Service” and noted that sources inside Gaza described it as comprising around 100 armed men operating with the quiet approval of the Israeli military.
In recent weeks, the Abu Shabab group publicly claimed its fighters were protecting aid shipments destined for newly established distribution centres run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a murky entity reportedly backed by both the United States and Israel.
“This is the first time the Israeli government has admitted supporting armed Palestinian factions in Gaza, which humanitarian groups have accused of violence and stealing food from aid convoys,” reported Al Jazeera’s Hamdah Salhut from Amman. “Netanyahu says these gangs could help defeat Hamas, but there’s growing backlash inside Israel, where many see these groups as criminal enterprises being armed with Israeli weapons.”
The backlash coincides with a surge in deadly incidents at GHF run aid distribution points. Since last week, Israeli forces have opened fire on Palestinians seeking food and medical aid on at least four separate occasions. More than 100 people have reportedly been killed, sparking international condemnation.
Chris Gunness, former spokesperson for UNRWA, described the GHF’s operations as having transformed Gaza into a “human abattoir.”
“Hundreds of civilians are herded like animals into fenced-off pens and are slaughtered like cattle in the process,” Gunness told arab newsout let.
Following global outcry, the GHF suspended its operations on Wednesday, but said it would reopen two aid centres in Rafah. It has not confirmed when aid distribution will resume.
Thursday’s airstrikes added to the carnage, with hospital sources confirming 52 Palestinian deaths. Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis received 31 bodies, while 21 more were taken to al-Ahli Arab and al-Shifa hospitals in Gaza City. Among the victims were four journalists reportedly killed in a strike on al-Ahli Hospital, also known as the Baptist Hospital.
Fadi al-Hindi, a Gaza City resident, described harrowing scenes on al-Nasser Street after a missile strike near al Shifa Hospital. “When I arrived, I saw a man in pieces he had been riding a bicycle, and the lower half of his body was gone. Everyone was injured, and we started collecting the body parts,” he said.
Additional deaths were reported by the Palestinian news agency Wafa, including five near Khan Younis, four west of Beit Lahiya, one south of Gaza City, and a child injured near Bureij. Israeli forces were also reported to have fired on Palestinians attempting to access aid near Wadi Gaza.
Meanwhile, Hamas political leader Khalil al-Hayya stated in a prerecorded message that the group had not rejected a ceasefire proposal brought forward by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff. Instead, al-Hayya said Hamas had requested modifications to ensure a genuine end to the war and confirmed the group remains engaged in ongoing negotiations.
Israel unilaterally ended the last truce in March and resumed its full-scale military offensive on Gaza.
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