Former Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman has publicly accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of arming rogue militias in Gaza to counter Hamas. In an interview with Kan Bet public radio on Thursday, Lieberman has said that Netanyahu’s government is providing weapons to groups with alleged links to ISIS, including the “Anti-Terror Service” led by Yasser Abu Shabab, to weaken Hamas’s control in the region. Critics have alleged that Abu Shabab’s group has ties to jihadist networks, such as ISIS. In response, Netanyahu has confirmed that Israel is supporting rival clans in Gaza to combat Hamas, describing this strategy as a necessary measure to protect Israeli soldiers and counter Hamas influence.Â
However, this approach has sparked controversy, with critics warning that it could backfire and exacerbate instability in Gaza. According to conservative Israeli news outlet Ynet News, Lieberman has repeatedly warned that Abu Shabab has ties to extremist group ISIS. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) have not officially responded to these allegations. The United Nations and humanitarian officials have confirmed that gangs like Abu Shabab’s have looted aid under Israeli oversight, leading to a strike by Gaza’s truck drivers after deadly attacks on aid convoys. Ynet News also reported that the European Union’s foreign policy chief, Joseph Borrell, has accused Israel of financing Hamas to weaken the Palestinian Authority. He stated that Hamas was financed by the government of Israel in an attempt to undermine the Palestinian Authority. It is widely believed that such a strategy would also undermine and thwart a two-state solution.
According to left-leaning Israeli news outlet Haaretz, at the end of last year, amid a surge in looting of humanitarian aid in southern Gaza, Abu Shabab and his men were widely accused of being behind the theft. In a November 2024 phone interview with The Washington Post, Abu Shabab did not fully deny the allegations, saying that his group avoided taking food, tents or supplies intended for children. It is worth mentioning that the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) are widely recognised as one of the most advanced and capable military organisations in the modern world. It has developed some of the most sophisticated defence systems in the world, many of which are widely adopted by other countries. Despite Israel’s small geographical size and population, the IDF’s military power is rooted in cutting-edge technology, strategic innovation, and rigorous training – the question now remains – why would Israel (the IDF and Benjamin Netanyahu) require the services of rogue militias such as ISIS or similar terrorist organisations in Gaza to defeat Hamas?