Netanyahu confirms support for armed Gaza clans to counter Hamas
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly admitted that his government is supporting armed groups in Gaza, composed of powerful local families, to combat Hamas. This revelation followed intensified Israeli airstrikes that killed at least 52 Palestinians in the besieged territory.
In a video shared on social media, Netanyahu acknowledged the decision to mobilize these factions based on recommendations from Israeli security officials. This marks the first time the Israeli government has openly confirmed its collaboration with Palestinian armed clans in Gaza. These groups have been accused by humanitarian organizations of committing violent crimes and stealing aid supplies amid worsening hunger due to Israel's blockade.
According to The Associated Press, one such group is the “Popular Forces” led by Yasser Abu Shabab in Rafah. Previously, Haaretz had reported that this group, described then as the “Anti-Terror Service,” operates with unofficial support from the Israeli military and includes around 100 armed men.
The Abu Shabab group recently declared online that its members were assisting in securing humanitarian deliveries for US- and Israeli-backed aid centers run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). However, this tactic has sparked internal criticism. Former Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman had already accused Netanyahu of arming criminal networks. Critics inside Israel warn that these groups, seen as lawless, are being handed Israeli weapons.
Al Jazeera’s Hamdah Salhut, reporting from Amman, noted that Netanyahu views these armed clans as useful allies in the fight against Hamas, but many Israelis fear this approach strengthens dangerous actors inside Gaza.
Netanyahu's comments came as new airstrikes struck various locations across Gaza, where ongoing Israeli attacks and a severe blockade have pushed civilians to the brink of famine. At least 52 people were reported killed on Thursday alone. Hospitals in Khan Younis and Gaza City received dozens of bodies.
Violence also erupted at aid distribution sites run by GHF, where Israeli troops allegedly opened fire on Palestinians seeking food. Over 100 people have been killed or injured in such incidents since last week. Chris Gunness, former spokesperson for the UN's Palestinian refugee agency, condemned the GHF’s operations, describing Gaza as a “human abattoir” where desperate civilians are shot while waiting for help.
Due to growing international outrage, GHF suspended its activities for a day before announcing it would reopen two aid centers in Rafah, though it did not specify when services would resume.
Among the dead were four journalists killed in a strike on al-Ahli Hospital, also known as the Baptist Hospital, in Gaza City. Local resident Fadi al-Hindi described horrific scenes near al-Shifa Hospital, where he witnessed the aftermath of a deadly attack, including dismembered victims and injured civilians.
The Palestinian news agency Wafa reported additional casualties across Gaza, including near Khan Younis, Beit Lahiya, and Wadi Gaza, where Israeli forces allegedly fired on civilians approaching an aid site.
Meanwhile, Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya stated in a recorded speech that the group had not rejected a ceasefire proposal from US envoy Steve Witkoff. Instead, Hamas requested revisions to guarantee a lasting end to the conflict. He affirmed Hamas’s willingness to continue negotiations. A previous truce collapsed in March when Israel resumed its military campaign.
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