Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed rumors that his country “activated” some clans of Palestinians in Gaza that he says are opposed to Hamas’s terrorist reign over the region.
Former Israeli defense minister Avigdor Lieberman, a political opponent of Netanyahu who now heads the Yisrael Beiteinu party, broke initial reports that the prime minister is arming the groups in Gaza. Lieberman and other Israeli political figures have condemned the plan. They say it endangers Israeli security, characterizing the armed group in Gaza as a “gang” of “criminals and felons” who are affiliated with the Islamic State.
Netanyahu defended the plan Thursday as he argued it was developed upon the advice of “security” officials and intended to outsource warfighting in a bid to save the lives of Israeli soldiers fighting against Hamas. The prime minister also condemned Lieberman for “leaking” the plan, which he suggested would help Hamas gain momentum.
“What did Lieberman leak?” the prime minister questioned in a video posted to X. “That security sources activated a clan in Gaza that opposes Hamas? What is bad about that? It is only good, saving the lives of Israeli soldiers. And publicizing it only helps Hamas.”
Popular Forces is the entity spearheading resistance to Hamas that received weapons shipments from Netanyahu, unnamed Israeli officials told multiple outlets, including the Wall Street Journal. The group is led by Yasser Abu Shabab and operates in Rafah, a city in southern Gaza.
