"Israel" has been accused of arming a Palestinian gang in southern Gaza, reportedly in an effort to counter Hamas, raising alarm over the use of proxy forces and the looting of humanitarian aid convoys.

Verified satellite imagery and footage obtained by Haaretz reveal that a new Palestinian armed group, led by a man identified as Yasser Abu Shabab, has increased its operations in eastern Rafah.

The area is currently under the direct control of the Israeli occupation forces. The group, which refers to itself as the "Anti-Terror Service", reportedly consists of approximately 100 armed men and has been described as both a criminal gang and a militia.

According to The Times of Israel, the Israeli regime allegedly supplied Abu Shabab’s faction with Kalashnikov rifles, including some seized from Hamas fighters.

The reported operation was said to have received approval from the Israeli security cabinet and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The article detailing these claims was cleared for publication by the Israeli military censor.

Abu Shabab, a Rafah resident with a known criminal background, has been accused of coordinating aid theft operations. His militia has also been linked to extremist groups and accused of collaborating with smuggling networks tied to Egyptian extremist elements.

The gang's presence near the Karem Abu Salem aid crossing and its activities in looting convoys have prompted sharp criticism from both Palestinian families and international humanitarian organizations.

The militia’s links with Israeli forces have been acknowledged by Abu Shabab’s own family, who publicly disowned him in a statement, saying, "We affirm that we will not accept Yasser’s return to the family... his blood is forfeit." The statement came after videos circulated showing the gang cooperating with undercover units of the Israeli occupation in Gaza.

Abu Shabab, for his part, has claimed that his men are protecting aid deliveries. However, Hamas officials and humanitarian witnesses have repeatedly accused their militia of targeting and looting these convoys, worsening the already dire humanitarian conditions in the Strip.

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Netanyahu defended the arming of Palestinian gangs in a video released Thursday, stating that "Israel" had activated certain clans on the advice of security officials in order to reduce military casualties.

A statement from his office added that defeating Hamas was being pursued through various methods, as recommended by all branches of the security establishment.

Nevertheless, the strategy has drawn backlash even from within the Israeli political sphere. Avigdor Lieberman, a former security minister and current opposition lawmaker, accused Netanyahu of supplying weapons to criminals tied to ISIS.

"The Israeli government is giving weapons to a group of criminals and felons, identified with Islamic State, at the direction of the prime minister," he said during an interview on Kan Bet public radio, although the exact basis for these allegations remains unclear.

Ynet, an Israeli news outlet, cited security officials confirming that the operation involving Abu Shabab was managed by the Shin Bet internal security agency, describing it as a coordinated effort to "systematically undermine Hamas" while minimizing direct military engagement.

Aid delivery crisis worsens as truckers targeted in Gaza

The situation on the ground in Gaza has further deteriorated following recent attacks on humanitarian aid convoys. On Wednesday, the Private Transport Association in Gaza declared a strike after several drivers were killed during a convoy ambush in central Gaza. Jihad Sleem, vice president of the association, confirmed that his cousin Mohammed al-Assar was among the victims. "It wouldn’t surprise me if [Abu Shabab] was involved in these attacks. He’s a gangster," Sleem said.

In a barbaric display of sadism, Israelis film themselves having a barbecue and eating delicious food not far from the Gaza border, where nearly 2.4 million Palestinians are being starved to death. pic.twitter.com/Pe2gsOaD9B

— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) May 25, 2025

Jonathan Whittall, head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in the occupied Palestinian territories, confirmed in a statement to The Guardian that gangs such as Abu Shabab's were responsible for the majority of aid theft in Gaza.

"Israel" has publicly claimed that the UN and NGO aid is being diverted by Hamas. "But this doesn’t hold up to scrutiny," Whittall said. "The real theft of aid... has been carried out by criminal gangs, under the watch of Israeli forces."

This alarming convergence of armed criminal groups and occupation forces has raised concerns over the deepening humanitarian crisis and "Israel's" weaponization of aid amid the ongoing genocide in Gaza.