Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the arming of Gaza-based militias on Thursday evening, defending the strategy as a life-saving measure recommended by the security establishment. “What’s wrong with it? It’s only good. It saves the lives of IDF soldiers,” he said. Netanyahu sharply criticized Avigdor Lieberman, head of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, whose disclosure of the operation, he claimed, “only helped Hamas. He doesn’t care—it’s very serious.”
The Shin Bet is reported to have spearheaded the operation. Senior security officials described the effort as a managed, strategic initiative. “It saves soldiers’ lives,” one said. “This is about targeted strikes, infrastructure destruction, occupation, and new governance models. It disrupts Hamas’ ability to project strength and deterrence. In time, it may even pave the way for a governing alternative.”
Footage of Yasser Abu-Shabab in Gaza
The most prominent among these militias is led by Yasser Abu-Shabab, a 32-year-old resident of Rafah from a Bedouin background, who is described on social media as a “militia leader in southern Gaza.” According to Abu-Shabab, his group now controls parts of eastern Rafah and has urged residents to return, promising food and shelter. He claims to operate “under Palestinian legitimacy,” a reference to the Palestinian Authority, and says his activities are coordinated with its leadership.
“This is a move that saves the lives of IDF soldiers,” one senior official told Ynet. “It’s a calculated effort. While it will take time to judge its success, it clearly disrupts Hamas’ ability to maintain the deterrence and security it once enjoyed. Eventually, it could open the door to new governing alternatives.”
The initiative was publicly exposed on Thursday when former defense minister and Yisrael Beiteinu leader Avigdor Lieberman violated military censorship by disclosing that Israel had armed a Gaza clan fighting Hamas. The censorship office then cleared parts of the information for publication, but security officials said the damage had already been done.
The Prime Minister’s Office did not deny the report, stating only that “Israel is working to defeat Hamas through various means, following the recommendations of all security chiefs.” During his term as defense minister, Lieberman had backed similar efforts in Syria, arming rebel factions aligned with Israeli interests.
Not everyone in the security establishment supports the current plan. Some warn that backing Abu-Shabab’s militia could become a long-term strategic risk, though officials appear willing to tolerate cooperation with unaligned local actors so long as they oppose Hamas.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid criticized the move sharply. “After Netanyahu finished sending millions of dollars to Hamas, he’s now providing weapons to groups affiliated with ISIS in Gaza,” Lapid said. “It’s all improvised, without strategic planning, and will lead to more disasters. Weapons that enter Gaza will eventually be turned against IDF soldiers and Israeli civilians. This government must go.”
Lieberman, in a radio interview, also questioned whether the plan was approved by the security cabinet. “It was likely known to the Shin Bet director,” he said, “but I don’t know if the chief of staff was fully informed.” He warned again that “these weapons will ultimately be used against us.”
According to Lieberman, the arms involved include light weapons and assault rifles captured from Hamas and redistributed to rival forces.
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Abu-Shabab, a polarizing figure in Gaza, was reportedly arrested by Hamas before the war on charges of theft and drug trafficking, but escaped prison after an Israeli airstrike destroyed Hamas’ security headquarters. In a recent video, he announced the creation of a new armed force aimed at protecting civilians from “the de facto Hamas government’s terror” and from “aid looters.” His group claims to distribute food and humanitarian supplies to hundreds of families, including in areas under Israeli control. “This is not out of desire,” he said, “but out of necessity—to prevent forced displacement.”
Despite the potential risks, Israeli authorities appear committed to pursuing the strategy of supporting non-Hamas-aligned groups in Gaza, in hopes of reshaping the post-Hamas political landscape.
First published: 17:21, 06.05.25