After Yisrael Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Lieberman revealed today (Thursday) that Israel had transferred weapons and ammunition to criminal families in the Gaza Strip, Prime Minister Netanyahu confirmed that Israel has been cooperating with armed militias in Gaza.
“It saves the lives of IDF soldiers”
“On the advice of security officials, we activated clans in Gaza that oppose Hamas,” said the prime minister. “It’s a good thing, and it saves the lives of IDF soldiers. The fact this has now been published only helps Hamas — but Lieberman doesn’t care. This was a criminal leak from a subcommittee of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee,” he added.
According to journalist Doron Kadosh, the weapons were delivered to militia members in the Gaza Strip. Most of the arms were originally confiscated from Hamas during IDF operations in the area.
The Prime Minister’s Office responded this morning: “Israel is working to defeat Hamas through a range of methods, in line with the recommendations of all the heads of the security establishment.”
Weapons, equipment, and money
A source in the security establishment who took part in the operation to arm anti-Hamas actors in Gaza told Kan 11 journalist Roee Sharon that Israel transferred “weapons, equipment, and also money” to the clans as part of a coordinated initiative.
The source, who played an active role in the operation, described: “This is a military force operating under high-level directives, arming gangs inside Gaza, transporting, offloading, and completing the missions — all with the guidance and oversight of ISA officers operating on the ground.”
“We have no way to monitor or track it”
In an interview this morning on Reshet Bet radio, Lieberman stated: “Israel provided assault rifles and light weapons to crime families in Gaza, on Netanyahu’s orders.”
“These weapons are going to criminals and gangs and are being turned against Israel. I don’t believe the Cabinet approved it. The head of the ISA knows — I’m not sure the Chief of Staff does. We’re talking about Gaza’s version of ISIS,” he added.
Lieberman further emphasized: “No one can guarantee these weapons won’t be used against Israel. We have no ability to monitor or track them.”
“Exposing a dangerous truth”
Hamas responded to the reports, saying that Lieberman’s remarks “expose a dangerous truth.”
According to the organization, Israel is arming “crime gangs” in the Gaza Strip to sow social and security chaos and to implement its plans of “starvation and theft of humanitarian aid.” Hamas added that these forces operate “under direct security supervision of the Zionists,” and described them as “a true enemy of our Palestinian people,” vowing that “our people’s forces and the relevant entities” would bring them to justice.
