Tel Aviv: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has confirmed that Israel is arming rival clans in Gaza in an effort to fight Hamas. The statement comes in the wake of Israeli media reports citing defense sources who claimed that Netanyahu had authorized the arming of a group in southern Gaza.
Following this admission, several Israeli politicians have accused Netanyahu of endangering national security. In a short video clip posted on X, Netanyahu defended the move, saying, "What’s wrong with that? It will only save the lives of Israeli soldiers." The video referred to reports that Israel has supplied weapons to a Gaza-based group led by Yasser Abu Shabab.
The group, believed by some to be opposed to Hamas, is reportedly being armed to help protect aid convoys entering Gaza. However, critics allege that the group has been involved in looting these convoys.
This development has sparked a new political scandal in Israel. According to Israeli Channel 10, Avigdor Lieberman, leader of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, accused Netanyahu of unilaterally authorizing arms for the Abu Shabab group. “The Israeli government is arming a group of criminals and murderers affiliated with ISIS,” Lieberman claimed, adding, “As far as I know, the cabinet did not approve this.”
Defense sources later confirmed that Israel has been supplying arms to the Abu Shabab clan, which operates in Rafah, an area under Israeli military control.
In an online video, Yasser Abu Shabab denied receiving weapons from Israel, claiming, “Our weapons are simple and old, and we acquired them with support from our people.”
Meanwhile, Hamas sources have expressed concern over the group’s activities. According to a report in Arab media, Hamas’s military wing has begun targeting members of the Abu Shabab group for assassination.
Netanyahu’s office stated that Israel is pursuing various strategies to defeat Hamas, based on recommendations from all heads of its security services.
Yair Golan, leader of the Democratic Bloc in the Knesset, sharply criticized Netanyahu’s actions. In a post on X, he wrote, “Netanyahu is a danger to Israel’s national security. Instead of reaching a deal, returning the hostages, and protecting Israeli citizens, he is planting a new time bomb in Gaza.”
