DM Monitoring
GAZA: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has admitted for the first time that Israel supported armed local groups in Gaza to help weaken Hamas, confirming reports of Israeli-backed Palestinian clans op-erating inside the besieged enclave.
In a video message posted on social media on Thursday, Netanyahu said the government had “activat-ed” powerful family-based factions in Gaza, following advice from security officials.
His comments follow public accusations by former Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman, who earlier criticised the secretive strategy.
An Israeli official quoted by the Associated Press identified one such group as the Popular Forces, led by Rafah clan leader Yasser Abu Shabab.
The group has been linked to Israeli-supported aid distribution centres run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a controversial entity operating under military protection.
The acknowledgement marks Israel’s first public confirmation of its relationship with these groups, which humanitarian organisations have accused of criminal activity and stealing aid meant for civilians suffering under the blockade.
“It’s not going down well within Israel,” said Al Jazeera’s Hamdah Salhut, reporting from Amman. “These are criminal gangs being armed with Israeli weapons. There was no cabinet-wide consultation.”
Chris Gunness, former UNRWA spokesperson, condemned the situation as a “human abattoir,” blam-ing the Israeli military and its allies for creating dangerous aid conditions.
The US-backed group behind the chaotic aid distribution programme in Gaza has said all its sites are closed, and has advised people to stay away from the hubs “for their safety”, reported Al Jazeera.
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which began distributing aid last week, said in a Facebook post that details about reopening would be announced later.
Operations at the group’s aid distribution hubs were halted earlier this week following days of deadly violence at the sites, in which Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinian aid seekers. Two sites distribut-ed aid on Thursday.
The GHF’s approach has been fiercely criticised by humanitarian organisations, including the United Nations. But the US and Israel have pushed aid groups to work with it, claiming that aid distributed by prior, long-established distribution networks was diverted to Hamas.
Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank observed Eid al-Adha on Friday, marking one of Islam’s most sacred festivals amid ongoing conflict and deepening humanitarian challenges. Across Palestinian towns and cities, worshippers gathered for morning prayers, many dressed in tradi-tional attire. Despite the somber atmosphere in Gaza due to war and blockade, families shared mod-est meals and performed ritual animal sacrifices where possible.
