In a striking revelation this morning, MK Avigdor Liberman claimed that Israel has been supplying small arms and ammunition to criminal families in the Gaza Strip in an effort to weaken Hamas’s grip on power. Speaking in an interview with Kan Reshet Bet, the Yisrael Beytenu party leader said the move was carried out under the direction of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and likely without cabinet approval.
“My assessment is that this didn’t go through the cabinet,” Liberman stated. “The Shin Bet chief knows. I’m not sure the IDF chief of staff even does. We’re talking about Gaza’s version of ISIS. No one can guarantee these weapons won’t be turned against Israel. We have no way to supervise or track them.”
Liberman also cast doubt on the current functioning of Shin Bet director Ronen Bar, saying, “I’m not sure how functional Ronen Bar is a week before he steps down.”
According to the report, the armed group in question is led by Yasser Abu Shabab and has recently begun asserting control over southern parts of the Gaza Strip, particularly Rafah. Israel has reportedly allowed this group to establish civil authority in areas vacated by Palestinian civilians, positioning it as a rival to Hamas. Members of the group have been seen providing security at humanitarian aid distribution sites, targets of Hamas attacks in recent weeks.
Responding to the criticism that Israel is arming Gaza during wartime, the Prime Minister’s Office released a statement that appeared to confirm the policy without directly addressing the weapons transfers: “Israel is working to defeat Hamas through various means, based on the recommendations of all senior defense officials.”
Journalist Doron Kadosh reported on photos of Yasser Abu-Shabab’s militia members published in recent days, noting their new-looking helmets and vests, some of which are in olive drab color, resembling military uniforms.
