Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that Israel is arming a clan within the Gaza Strip to fight Hamas, the BBC reported Thursday.
Netanyahu’s remarks confirmed multiple reports from Israeli media that indicated the Israeli government is providing arms to the Abu Shabab clan — led by an individual named Yasser Abu Shabab — to oppose Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the BBC reported. While several Israeli politicians accused the prime minister of endangering Israelis with the move, Netanyahu staunchly defended the strategy as a novel way to pressure Hamas.
“What’s wrong with this?” Netanyahu said according to the BBC. “It only saves the lives of Israeli soldiers.”
Defense sources confirmed to the Times of Israel that Israel sent captured Kalashnikov rifles to the gang that were originally seized from Hamas terrorists. Some observers argue that the Abu Shabab clan is more like a militia or a criminal gang than a conventional clan, according to BBC.
The Abu Shabab clan has styled itself as an opposition force to Hamas in the Gaza Strip despite allegations of looting the aid vehicles they claim to protect as Gaza faces large-scale starvation. Yasser Abu Shabab has denied that the Israeli government is arming his men, saying in an online statement that the weapons “came through the support of our own people.”
Israeli opposition politician Avigdor Lieberman said Netanyahu made the decision unilaterally, according to the BBC. The clan has reportedly been operating out of the Rafah region of Gaza, which is currently under Israel Defense Forces (IDF) control.
“The Israeli government is giving weapons to a group of criminals and felons, identified with the Islamic State group,” Lieberman said, according to the BBC. “To my knowledge, this did not go through approval by the cabinet.”
Peace talks between Hamas and Israel have stalled out in recent months after Israel resumed bombardment of Gaza as a brief 3-month ceasefire broke down in March. Netanyahu has recently faced mounting international pressure to end the war in Gaza, but has so far continued to prosecute the conflict, most recently launching “Operation Gideon’s Chariot” aimed at the total capture of the entire Gaza Strip.
Netanyahu’s office did not respond to a request for comment.
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