The armed Gaza crime families who were reportedly equipped by Israel under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's orders were involved in a clash with Hamas operatives near aid distribution centers earlier this week, sparking a violent confrontation falsely blamed on the IDF, Israel Hayom has learned.
Israeli government sources launched a fierce attack on Yisrael Beytenu Chairman Avigdor Lieberman Thursday after he claimed that Israel was arming militias associated with ISIS in the Gaza Strip on orders from Netanyahu's office. The Prime Minister's Office did not deny Lieberman's statements and said, "Israel acts to defeat Hamas in various and diverse ways on the recommendation of all security establishment heads."
Israel Hayom has learned that the militia was likely involved in a shooting near aid distribution centers earlier this week, for which foreign media falsely blamed the IDF. Those same armed individuals tried to drive away Hamas members who threatened with weapons those who went to collect supplies from the distribution centers run by US private contractors. Senior Israeli security officials confirmed Thursday that non-Hamas, non-Fatah local militias in Gaza were cooperating with Israel, engaging Hamas in combat, and guarding aid sites.
"Lieberman, the serial leaker lacking responsibility, apparently prefers that our soldiers risk their lives against Hamas instead of using local armed groups in certain situations," a government source said. "When everything is positioning and personal politicking – even thinking becomes distorted."
Another senior source said Lieberman "completely lost it again. While his leftist camp colleagues spread antisemitic blood libels against Israeli Air Force soldiers, Lieberman chooses to endanger our soldiers and the country's security to gather votes."
MK Yulia Malinovsky, who is in Lieberman's Knesset faction, responded to briefings from "a senior source in the Diplomatic-Security Cabinet" against Lieberman for exposing that Netanyahu distributes weapons to clans associated with ISIS in the Strip. "Those who caused there to be hostages in Gaza in the first place are the misconception people led by the October 7 prime minister. Netanyahu, who transfers humanitarian aid worth 700 million shekels ($197 million) to Hamas, endangers our soldiers," she said.
She added that "whoever distributes weapons to ISIS militias is completely irresponsible and unrestrained. Whoever approved the transfer of Qatari cash suitcases to Hamas must go home. That same senior source in the Diplomatic-Security Cabinet reveals himself as a cynical person who prevents action only from narrow political motives."
Lieberman responded by tweeting on his X account, "To the October 7 government that arms clans associated with ISIS – the October 7 prime minister learned nothing and still continues with the same conception that led us to the greatest massacre in the state's history. Netanyahu cultivated Hamas for years and refused to listen to me when I said that by doing so he severely harms Israel's security. Right now he is repeating the exact same mistake and transferring weapons to clans associated with ISIS in Gaza."
Diplomatic-Security Cabinet ministers said they "are not familiar with weapon distribution in Gaza to clans. The Diplomatic-Security Cabinet did not approve arming of organizations in Gaza, but Israel does act to create conflict between Hamas and other forces."
Meanwhile, the terror organization announced that leadership has intensified its internal activity in the Strip in recent days. As part of an extensive operation against suspects who collaborate with Israel. Sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that the directive was issued to senior security apparatus officials and military wing personnel, aimed at acting against troublemakers. According to sources who spoke with the newspaper, some of the suspects were shot, others were beaten and some were even executed.
