Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that Israel is arming clans in the Gaza Strip to undermine Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that Israel has been fighting for almost 20 months.
Netanyahu issued a video statement acknowledging that Israel had “activated” clans that oppose Hamas, saying the move would help save the lives of Israeli soldiers.
The prime minister made the statement after Avigdor Lieberman, a right-wing lawmaker and former deputy prime minister who is opposed to Netanyahu, leaked the news that Israel was arming Palestinian factions in Gaza and warned that the weapons could eventually be turned on Israel’s own troops, who are engaged in a large-scale offensive to take control of the coastal enclave and destroy Hamas.
Lieberman claimed in an interview with an Israeli broadcaster that the “Israeli government is giving weapons to a group of criminals and felons identified with Islamic State, at the direction of the prime minister.”
NPR has been unable to substantiate the claim.
Israel is arming clans in the Gaza Strip to weaken Hamas, the Palestinian militant organization Israel has been battling for nearly 20 months, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday.
Netanyahu acknowledged in a video statement that Israel had “activated” anti-Hamas clans, claiming that the action would help save Israeli soldiers’ lives.
After Avigdor Lieberman, a right-wing lawmaker and former deputy prime minister who opposes Netanyahu, leaked information claiming that Israel was arming Palestinian factions in Gaza and warned that the weapons could eventually be used against Israel’s own troops, who are waging a massive offensive to seize the coastal enclave and destroy Hamas, the prime minister made the statement.
“The Israeli government is providing weapons to a group of criminals and felons associated with Islamic State, at the prime minister’s direction,” Lieberman asserted in an interview with an Israeli broadcaster. The assertion has not been supported by NPR.
According to Israeli media, one of the groups receiving Israeli assistance is a gang run by Yasser Abu Shabab, who has been charged by the U.S. No. last year of robbing its aid convoys in Israel’s military-controlled parts of Gaza.
Abu Shabab, however, has recently made an effort to reposition himself as a militia leader who opposes Hamas and ensures that food is delivered to Gazans. He has done this by posting images of himself and his men in uniform and with weapons.
