Israel accused of arming Palestinian gang who allegedly looted support in Gaza

Israel’s govt has been accused of arming a Palestinian felony gang whose contributors have allegedly looted humanitarian support, in an obvious try to counter Hamas in Gaza.

Satellite photographs and movies verified by means of the Israeli nationwide newspaper Haaretz confirmed on Thursday that a brand new Palestinian military has expanded its presence in southern Gaza, and is working inside of a space beneath the direct regulate of the Israel Defense Forces.

The workforce, which has additionally been accused of ties to jihadi teams, is reportedly led by means of a person referred to as Yasser Abu Shabab, a Rafah resident from a Bedouin circle of relatives, recognized in the neighborhood for his involvement in criminality and the looting of humanitarian support.

According to media reviews, Abu Shabab’s workforce, which calls itself the “Anti-Terror Service”, is composed of about 100 armed males who perform in japanese Rafah with the tacit approval of the Israeli defense force. It has variously been described as a military and a felony gang.

The Times of Israel cited defence resources who stated that Israel equipped contributors Abu Shabab’s faction with Kalashnikov attack rifles, together with some guns seized from Hamas. The operation was once licensed by means of Israel’s safety cupboard and top minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the newspaper reported, noting that its article have been licensed for e-newsletter by means of Israel’s army censor.

In a video posted on social media overdue on Thursday, Netanyahu stated Israel had “activated” some Palestinian clans in Gaza, at the recommendation of “security officials,” with a view to save lives of Israeli squaddies.

The top minister’s workplace had previous stated that “Israel is working to defeat Hamas in various ways, on the recommendation of all heads of the security establishment.”

Former Defense Minister and opposition lawmaker Avigdor Lieberman repeated the allegations and alleged that Abu Shaba’s workforce was once affiliated with the Islamic State (IS) terror workforce.

“The Israeli government is giving weapons to a group of criminals and felons, identified with Islamic State, at the direction of the prime minister,” Lieberman, who heads the opposition Yisrael Beiteinu birthday party, instructed Kan Bet public radio. “To my knowledge, this did not go through approval by the cabinet.”

The foundation for Lieberman’s allegation of ties to IS was once now not transparent. Abu Shabab’s workforce has up to now been accused of involvement in smuggling operations related to Egyptian jihadi teams.

A safety respectable instructed Israeli information outlet Ynet that the arming of Abu Shabab was once licensed and led by means of the Shin Bet inside safety carrier, and described the operation as “planned and managed”, with the objective of ‘‘reducing Israeli military casualties while systematically undermining Hamas through targeted strikes, infrastructure destruction and the promotion of rival local forces.’’

The IDF didn’t straight away reply to a request for remark.

In fresh weeks, Abu Shabab has printed anti-Hamas and anti-Palestinian Authority messages whilst selling his military’s efforts on Facebook.

Yasser Abu Shabab’s hyperlinks with Israeli forces had been showed by means of the person’s personal circle of relatives, which issued a observation final week officially disowning him.

‘‘We, like everyone else, were surprised by video footage broadcast by the resistance showing the involvement of Yasser’s teams inside a deadly safety framework, attaining the purpose of working inside undercover devices and supporting the Zionist profession forces, who’re brutally killing our other folks,” the observation stated.

“We affirm that we will not accept Yasser’s return to the family. We have no objection to those around him liquidating him immediately, and we tell you that his blood is forfeit.’’

Abu Shabab has reportedly claimed his group were protecting aid convoys, while Hamas has accused him of looting the aid trucks.

On 28 May, Jonathan Whittall, the head of United Nations office for the coordination of humanitarian affairs in occupied Palestinian territories said: “Israel has publicly claimed that the UN and NGO aid is being diverted by Hamas. But this doesn’t hold up to scrutiny. The real theft of aid since the beginning of the war has been carried out by criminal gangs, under the watch of Israeli forces, and they were allowed to operate in proximity to the Kerem Shalom crossing point into Gaza.’’

Reached by Guardian, Whittall confirmed he was ‘‘referring to gangs such as Abu Shabab.’’

On Wednesday, a labour union representing Gazan truck drivers said it was halting transport of aid deliveries within the Strip following an incident in which several truckers were shot dead by gunmen.

The Private Transport Association says it was calling the strike in response to an incident a day ago in which a convoy of trucks carrying humanitarian aid was attacked by gunmen in the central Gaza.

‘‘This crime is not the first of its kind, but it is by far the most serious in a series of recurring assaults aimed at obstructing relief operations and preventing vital aid from reaching hundreds of thousands of civilians facing dire humanitarian conditions,’’ reads the statement.

Jihad Sleem, vice president of the Special Transportation Association, who lost his relative, Mohammed Al-Assar, in the attack, said he doesn’t know who these gunmen were.

Asked if he suspected Abu Shabab was behind the killings, he said: ‘‘It wouldn’t surprise me if he was involved in these attacks. He’s a gangster.”

Jamal Risheq contributed to this file