ALWAGHT- In a controversial statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that his government has supported and armed an ISIS-linked group in the besieged Gaza Strip to weaken Hamas.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has effectively admitted to arming and supporting a criminal gang in Gaza, following a revelation by former defense minister Avigdor Lieberman. Lieberman stated that, under Netanyahu’s orders, weapons were being funneled to an ISIS-linked group in Gaza to counter Hamas. Netanyahu defended the move in a social media video, calling it a necessary measure to save Israeli soldiers' lives. The gang in question, led by Yasser Abu Shabab, is a Bedouin clan with ties to ISIS and a history of criminal activity, including looting aid convoys.
The European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) and Hamas have both confirmed the group's disruptive role, accusing it of collaborating with Israeli forces to destabilize Gaza. The Abu Shabab clan, once unified, has now publicly denounced its rogue members, labeling Yasser a collaborator and criminal. Hamas claims that the gang’s actions—looting aid and attacking UN convoys—are being coordinated with Israeli forces to exacerbate humanitarian suffering and justify military escalation.
These revelations come as Israel struggles to achieve its objectives in Gaza, despite nearly two years of warfare. Senior Israeli commanders acknowledge that Hamas remains firmly in control of the Strip, with an estimated 20,000 fighters still active. The exposure of Israel's covert alliance with local armed gangs further complicates the situation, raising serious ethical and strategic questions about the regime’s approach to the conflict.
