Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly acknowledged that Israel is backing armed Palestinian clans in Gaza to counter Hamas, a revelation made in a video statement on X on Thursday. 

The admission followed a wave of Israeli military strikes that killed at least 52 Palestinians in the blockaded enclave, exacerbating a humanitarian crisis marked by widespread starvation.

Netanyahu disclosed that Israel, acting on security officials’ advice, has “activated” local family-based groups to weaken Hamas’s grip. One such group, the Popular Forces led by Rafah clan leader Yasser Abu Shabab, reportedly operates with Israel’s tacit approval. 

Last month, Haaretz reported that this group, dubbed the “Anti-Terror Service,” comprises about 100 armed men who have been protecting aid shipments to distribution centers managed by the opaque Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), backed by Israel and the U.S.

The strategy has sparked controversy within Israel. Former Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman accused Netanyahu of employing these tactics without consulting the cabinet, a claim echoed by opposition voices. 

Al Jazeera’s Hamdah Salhut, reporting from Amman, noted that critics in Israel view these groups as “criminal enterprises” armed with Israeli weapons, fueling unease about their role in Gaza.

The announcement coincided with another deadly day in Gaza, where Israel’s ongoing blockade has pushed the population toward famine. 

Over the past week, more than 100 Palestinians have been killed and many injured at GHF-run aid distribution sites, with Israeli forces firing on crowds seeking supplies on four occasions. 

Aid workers have accused these armed clans of stealing from aid trucks, intensifying the territory’s dire conditions.

Source: Al Jazeera 

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