Israel Is Empowering Palestinian Militias to Fight Hamas, Fueling chaos and Allegations of Aid Theft
JERUSALEM – as Israel seeks to excise Hamas from Gaza, it’s empowering militias led by the Palestinian group’s enemies, assisting and providing them with military support in an attempt to present them as an alternative to Hamas’s rule in the enclave.
The policy appears to date back to late last year, when Israel targeted local police forces in Gaza, justifying such attacks by saying that any government entity in gaza is affiliated with Hamas; the result was chaos in parts of the Strip.
In the ensuing security vacuum,a 32-year-old Palestinian tribesman named Yaser Abu Shabab emerged with some 100 of his clansmen to control aid routes near the Kerem Shalom crossing,a critically crucial aid conduit at the gaza-Israel boundary.
Aid organizations accuse groups like Abu Shabab’s of looting aid convoys, having ties to extremist groups and exacerbating famine in gaza.
In May, Jonathan Whitall, then director of the U.N.’s office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in the Occupied Territories, said in a news briefing that “criminal gangs, under the watch of Israeli forces,” have been “allowed to operate in proximity to the Kerem Shalom border crossing.”
A month later, Israeli Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged his government, following the advice of security officials, had “activated” clans in Gaza to work against Hamas.
“What’s bad about it?” he said in a video statement. “it’s only good and it only saves the lives of Israel Defense Force soldiers.”
Abu Shabab has as styled his group into the so-called “Popular forces.” Soon after Netanyahu’s address, Abu Shabab released a statement of his own denying receiving any arms from Israel. But othre posts touting the group’s security and aid operations show him working in areas under the full control of the Israeli military, and reports from Israeli media say he has received Kalashnikov rifles from the military.
Abu Shabab’s group may have been the first to make itself known in Gaza, but other militias have since cropped up, activists say, operating in various parts of the Strip in concert with the Israeli military.
One of the more prominent examples is led by hussam Al-Astal, 50, a former officer in the Palestinian Authority’s security service who was accused by colleagues in the Palestinian Authority and Hamas of collaborating with Israel in the 1990s and of assassinating a high-ranking Hamas official in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
His group, which calls itself “the Strike Force Against Terror,” has cemented its control over Qizan Al-Najjar, a village south of Rafah, which Astal describes as a haven for those opposed to Hamas.
“Today in my area, we have no war,” Astal said in a phone interview Friday, adding that others are expected to come and that anyone
Images of Death and Desperation emerge From Khan Yunis as Fighting Intensifies
The scale of the devastation in khan Yunis is becoming increasingly clear with the emergence of harrowing images and videos depicting the aftermath of intense fighting between Israeli forces and Hamas. Reports and visual evidence suggest a mounting civilian death toll and widespread destruction in the southern Gaza city.
Graphic videos circulating on social media, reportedly filmed by local activists and shared on Telegram, show bodies lying in the streets. In one especially disturbing video, the camera focuses on a row of bloodied corpses. The authenticity of the videos could not be independently verified, but they align with reports from medical officials and aid workers on the ground.
The images underscore the desperate situation facing civilians trapped in Khan Yunis,where Israeli forces have been conducting a major offensive in recent weeks.Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have fled the city, seeking refuge in already overcrowded shelters in rafah, near the Egyptian border.
The fighting has severely hampered aid deliveries, leaving residents with dwindling supplies of food, water, and medicine. Medical facilities are overwhelmed and struggling to cope with the influx of casualties.
The images emerging from Khan Yunis add to the growing international pressure for a ceasefire and increased humanitarian access to Gaza. However, with both sides refusing to back down, the prospect of an end to the fighting remains bleak.
Israel’s Attempts to Recruit Palestinian Clans in Gaza spark Controversy and Retaliation
Recent reports indicate that Israel has been attempting to enlist the cooperation of Palestinian clans in gaza, offering aid and logistical support in exchange for assistance with maintaining order and potentially establishing a post-Hamas administration. These overtures have been met with a range of responses, from limited collaboration to outright rejection, often followed by devastating consequences for those who refuse. The initiative highlights Israel’s efforts to reshape the political landscape of Gaza amidst the ongoing conflict,and the complex dynamics within palestinian society.
Ancient Context: Past Attempts at Collaboration
Israel has a history of attempting to leverage internal Palestinian divisions. In the past, it supported Palestinian Islamist groups, including Hamas, in the hope of weakening the Palestine Liberation Association (PLO) and secular factions.https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-tried-boost-hamas-weaken-palestinians-documents-2023-10-26/ This strategy, as revealed in recently declassified documents, aimed to counter the PLO’s influence, but ultimately backfired. A similar initiative in the 1980s,seeking a more compliant Palestinian authority,also failed.
Current Overtures and the Price of Cooperation
Currently, Israel is approaching individual clans – extended families that wield significant influence within gaza – offering resources like food, water, and even arms in exchange for taking control of “humanitarian zones” and assisting with security. However, cooperation with Israel carries a heavy social stigma within palestinian society, often resulting in ostracization by the community.
Individuals like Said al-Astal, a Palestinian who has coordinated with the Israeli military, have been disowned by their families. Al-Astal defends his actions, stating he coordinates to secure essential supplies and medical evacuations for civilians. https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/palestinian-clan-chief-cooperating-israel-gaza-hamas-traitor He openly acknowledges receiving aid from the Israeli military and views himself as part of a future, post-Hamas Gaza administration. “There’s no place for Hamas here,” he stated.
rejection and Retaliation
Not all clans are willing to accept Israel’s offers. Nizar Dughmush, head of a prominent tribe in Gaza City, recounts being approached by an israeli intermediary with a similar proposal – to manage a humanitarian zone in exchange for logistical support. Dughmush firmly refused, stating his clan wished to remain neutral and not become “tools of the occupation.”
Following his rejection, Dughmush alleges that Israeli warplanes systematically attacked his tribe’s neighborhood, killing over 100 members and destroying homes.https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/palestinian-clan-chief-cooperating-israel-gaza-hamas-traitor He claims this was a direct act of vengeance for his clan’s refusal to cooperate. Similar reports emerged from the Dayri and Bakr clans,who also faced attacks after rejecting Israeli offers. Dughmush is now displaced with the remnants of his clan.
The Broader Implications
Israel’s strategy reflects a desire to establish a new order in Gaza following the conflict with Hamas. By attempting to bypass Hamas and work directly with clans,Israel hopes to create a more stable and controllable environment. However, this approach risks exacerbating existing tensions within Palestinian society and fueling further resentment towards Israel. The severe consequences faced by clans who refuse to cooperate raise serious concerns about collective punishment and the protection of civilian populations.
Ongoing Situation: The situation in Gaza remains highly volatile. The long-term success of Israel’s strategy, and the future role of Palestinian clans, remain uncertain.