Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has admitted that Israel armed clans in Gaza hostile to Hamas, claiming the move was approved by security officials and aimed at safeguarding Israeli soldiers. In a video message, he defended the strategy, insisting it saved lives.
The admission followed reports in the Israeli media that Netanyahu had personally authorised the distribution of weapons to a clan led by Yasser Abu Shabab, a resident of Rafah from a Bedouin background, known locally for his involvement in criminal activity. His group, which calls itself the Popular Forces or the Anti-Terror Service, is believed to have received Kalashnikov rifles, including some confiscated from Hamas.
Israeli officials have described Abu Shabab as the head of a Palestinian militia they armed to undermine Hamas’s grip on southern Gaza. Although Abu Shabab denies receiving Israeli arms, multiple videos circulating on social media show him operating alongside Israeli forces in IDF-controlled zones.
Abu Shabab, in his thirties, holds influence in eastern Rafah, near the Kerem Shalom border crossing. Humanitarian workers and Palestinian civilians have accused his group of hijacking and looting aid convoys. Truck drivers and aid personnel allege that his men, often armed, have intercepted shipments of flour and other supplies.
A senior United Nations official, Georgios Petropoulos, described him as a self-declared power broker in the area. In a November 2024 interview, Abu Shabab denied looting on a wide scale but admitted that his men had taken control of several aid trucks, saying the goods were needed to feed his community.
Though significantly smaller than Hamas, his group has grown more visible in recent months. In May, it began posting images of armed members online and claimed responsibility for securing dozens of aid trucks. In a video, Abu Shabab urged displaced residents to return to Rafah, promising food, medicine and shelter. He also claimed to operate under “Palestinian legitimacy”, a term typically associated with the Palestinian Authority, which has not confirmed any link to his faction.
The Palestinian Authority declined to comment directly on connections to Abu Shabab. A spokesman, Major General Anwar Rajab, said a full statement would be issued soon, noting that the matter involved overlapping political, security and humanitarian concerns.
Israeli opposition parties have sharply criticised Netanyahu’s strategy. Yair Golan of the Democrats accused him of creating a new crisis in Gaza instead of securing a deal for the return of Israeli hostages. Avigdor Lieberman, a former defence minister, alleged links between Abu Shabab’s group and Islamic State, although he provided no evidence. The IDF has not commented on the allegations.
Even Abu Shabab’s own family has distanced itself. In a public statement last week, they denounced him as a collaborator with Israel and said he was no longer welcome among them.
Also read
- Final Hanukkah: Video shows 6 Israeli hostages weeks before their murder
- Gaza ceasefire's critical phase 2: Israel demands disarmament, partners urge caution
- Gaza truce at 'critical moment,' warns Qatari PM amidst diplomatic hurdles
- How Lashkar comes into the picture as Israel wants India to designate Hamas a terrorist organisation?
Jonathan Whittall, a senior UN humanitarian official, said that criminal gangs had looted aid near Israeli-controlled crossings and named Abu Shabab’s group as one of them.
Netanyahu, however, remained defiant. “On the advice of security officials, we activated clans in Gaza that oppose Hamas,” he said in a video message. “What’s bad about it? It only saves the lives of IDF soldiers, and exposing it only helps Hamas.”