Israel’s covert support for a Gaza-based militia accused of looting humanitarian aid and having jihadist ties has ignited political backlash and worsened the region’s humanitarian crisis.
At a Glance
- Israel has armed a Gaza-based militia led by Yasser Abu Shabab to counter Hamas.
- The group, dubbed the “Anti-Terror Service,” is accused of looting humanitarian aid convoys.
- Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu confirmed the strategy, citing efforts to reduce IDF casualties.
- Opposition leaders allege the militia has ties to ISIS and was armed without cabinet approval.
- The United Nations reports aid thefts occurring under Israeli oversight in Gaza.
Strategic Pivot
In a controversial bid to weaken Hamas’s dominance in Gaza, Israel has armed a faction led by Yasser Abu Shabab, a local militia commander with a murky history. The group, self-styled as the “Anti-Terror Service,” was reportedly supplied with captured Kalashnikov rifles and logistical support by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Its alleged mandate: secure southern Gaza and challenge Hamas’s control from within.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged the policy, framing it as a tactical measure to reduce Israeli military casualties. “What’s bad about that?” he asked critics, defending the decision as a cost-effective solution. However, the group’s reported actions—including the looting of aid convoys and suspected jihadist links—have prompted a domestic and international firestorm.
Watch a report: ISIS backed gangs in coordination with Israel are stealing the aid from Palestinians not Hamas.
Risk and Opportunity
While Netanyahu insists the strategy is pragmatic, opposition lawmakers warn it’s dangerously short-sighted. Critics claim the militia was armed without cabinet approval and highlight Abu Shabab’s alleged past links to ISIS affiliates—a risk that could spiral into broader instability in Gaza or even blow back into Israel itself.
Meanwhile, humanitarian organizations report rampant looting of aid convoys, often in territories under Israeli oversight. The United Nations has documented instances of aid theft near the Kerem Shalom crossing, sparking outrage from aid agencies and triggering a strike by Gaza’s truck drivers after multiple deadly ambushes.
The fallout underscores a growing dilemma: in attempting to neutralize one threat, Israel may have empowered another. And for Gaza’s 2.2 million residents, the consequences are increasingly fatal.
