Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has confirmed that Israel is arming clans in Gaza that he says are opposed to Hamas.
His comments came after Israeli media reports quoted defence sources as saying Netanyahu had authorised giving weapons to one particular group in the south of Gaza.
Several Israeli politicians have accused Netanyahu of endangering Israeli security.
Israeli defence sources had earlier confirmed to local journalists that accusations made by the opposition politician Avigdor Lieberman were correct.
Defence sources subsequently confirmed that Israel had been arming the Abu Shabab clan with Kalashnikov rifles, including some that had been seized from Hamas.
Israel is arming clans in Gaza that he claims are anti-Hamas, according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Following Israeli media reports that cited defense sources claiming that Netanyahu had approved the provision of weapons to a specific group in the southern part of Gaza, he made his remarks.
Netanyahu is allegedly putting Israeli security at risk, according to a number of Israeli politicians.
In a brief video that he tweeted, Netanyahu asks, “What’s wrong with this?”. He goes on to say that “it only saves the lives of Israeli soldiers and that publicizing it only benefits Hamas.”.
The Israeli prime minister is alluding to reports that Israel, acting under his order, has been providing weapons to a clan in Gaza that is headed by a man named Yasser Abu Shabab.
The group has positioned itself as an opposition force to Hamas, although some view it as a criminal gang or a militia.
Critics claim that while it claims to be protecting trucks carrying aid into Gaza, it is actually looting them.
Although Benjamin Netanyahu may have dismissed the revelations, they could turn into a significant new political scandal.
Local journalists had previously received confirmation from Israeli defense sources that the charges made by opposition politician Avigdor Lieberman were accurate.
The leader of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, Lieberman, had told Kan, a public broadcaster, that Netanyahu had given his unilateral approval for the arms transfer to the Abu Shabab clan.
According to Lieberman, “a group of criminals and felons, identified with the Islamic State group, are receiving weapons from the Israeli government.”.
“As far as I’m aware, the cabinet did not approve this,” he continued.
Later, defense sources verified that Israel had been supplying Kalashnikov rifles, including some that had been taken from Hamas, to the Abu Shabab clan.
Rafah, which is under Israeli military control, is where the clan has been active.
But in an online post, Yasser Abu Shabab “categorically reject” that Israel had provided the weapons to his group.
He claimed that “our weapons are simple, outdated, and came through the support of our own people.”.
The activities of Abu Shabab have become problematic, according to Hamas sources. According to one report in an Arabic newspaper, the Hamas armed wing has started killing clan members.
According to Netanyahu’s office, Israel “was working to defeat Hamas through various means, based on the recommendations of all the heads of the security establishment.”.
The initiative has drawn harsh criticism from Yair Golan, the Knesset’s Democratic leader.
He stated on X in a social media post: “Israel’s national security is in danger from Netanyahu. rather than negotiating a price. He is setting off a new ticking time bomb in Gaza by bringing the hostages home and ensuring the safety of Israeli citizens.
