Tel Aviv [Israel], June 6: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has admitted that his country is using armed gangs in Gaza to fight Hamas amid a stalemate in ceasefire and humanitarian efforts there.
Al Jazeera quoted Prime Minister Netanyahu as admitting that the Israeli government supported the faction in Gaza on the advice of security officials. Netanyahu made the statement in a video posted on social network X on June 5, just hours after former Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman revealed that the Israeli government used this tactic.
It is the first time Israel has publicly acknowledged its support for armed groups in Gaza , which have been accused of carrying out attacks and looting aid amid famine across the strip due to Tel Aviv's strict blockade.
AP news agency quoted an Israeli official as saying that Prime Minister Netanyahu mentioned the "Popular Forces" group led by Mr. Yasser Abu Shabab - an influential clan leader in Rafah (southern Gaza).
Last month, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported on the group's activities. In the article, the group, which it calls the "Counter- Terrorism Agency ," has about 100 armed members and operates with the tacit approval of the Israeli military.
"The Israeli opposition claims that there was no consultation within the Israeli government or the Israeli cabinet. Mr Netanyahu said that these armed gangs. could essentially help the Israelis defeat Hamas in Gaza. But this is not acceptable in Israel, where many people believe that these are armed criminal enterprises in the Gaza Strip. They should not be armed and Israeli equipment is being handed over to them," Al Jazeera commented.
Prime Minister Netanyahu's statement came amid a series of attacks on people approaching and receiving food aid at relief points of the US-Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Fund (GHF).
In recent weeks, the Abu Shabab force in Gaza has announced that its members are helping protect supply shipments to new US- and Israeli-sponsored distribution centers.
Meanwhile, Chris Gunness, former spokesman for the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees ( UNRWA ), told Al Jazeera that the GHF operations were a "death trap".
According to hospital sources in Gaza, at least 52 Palestinians were killed on June 5. Sources said 31 bodies were taken to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, while 21 were taken to al-Ahli Arab and al-Shifa Hospitals in Gaza City.
Regarding the peace talks, Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya stressed that the group did not reject the ceasefire proposal in Gaza proposed by US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and demanded some changes to ensure an end to the conflict. Mr. Al-Hayya added that Hamas is ready to participate in further negotiations, while saying that dialogue with the mediator is still ongoing.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper
