Occupied Palestine (Quds News Network)- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has confirmed that his government is arming gangs in Gaza to “strengthen opposition groups in the Strip”. According to Israeli media reports, Netanyahu said “in consultation with security officials, we made use of clans in Gaza that are opposed to Hamas.” “What’s wrong with that?” he continues. “It’s only good. It saves the lives of IDF soldiers,” he added. Quoting a defence security source in a report that was allowed for publication by the Israeli army censor, The Times of Israel said Israel provided rifles – seized from Hamas during the war – to an armed group “to strengthen opposition groups in the Strip”. The group is led by Yasser Abu Shabab, a member of a criminal gang in southern Gaza, the report said, adding that it operates in an area in Rafah under the control of the Israeli army. The sources said the arming of Abu Shabab’s group was carried out without the approval of Israel’s security cabinet. Haaretz said satellite images and online videos show how the new armed group has expanded its presence in southern Gaza. The report said Abu Shabab launched two Facebook pages with anti-Hamas and anti-Palestinian Authority messages, promoting the group’s efforts and saying it aimed to provide security and distribute aid to civilians. Avigdor Liberman, who heads the opposition Yisrael Beytenu party, told the Kan public broadcaster on Thursday morning that Netanyahu had unilaterally approved the transfer of weapons to the Abu Shabab gang. "Israel has provided assault rifles and light weapons to crime clans in Gaza, on Netanyahu's orders," Lieberman said. "The weapons are being transferred to criminals and offenders and are being directed at Israel.” "In my opinion, it did not pass cabinet approval. The head of the Shin Bet knows, I'm not sure the chief of staff knows. We're talking about the equivalent of ISIS in Gaza," he added, referencing the Islamic State group. Netanyahu’s office did not deny the accusations made by Liberman. In response, Netanyahu’s office said: “Israel is working to defeat Hamas in various ways, on the recommendation of all heads of the security establishment.” The accusations add weight to the claim that Israel has used criminal gangs in Gaza to disrupt the distribution of aid in the besieged enclave and create chaos. There have been several reports in recent months of Israel backing, or turning a blind eye to, armed gangs looting aid and food warehouses in Gaza. Abu Shabab has a known history of drug smuggling and collaboration with extremist groups. His gang, consisting of over 200 armed individuals, has established a fortified base in an Israeli-controlled zone in Rafah. This area, referred to as a “death zone,” is typically inaccessible to Gaza residents, further raising suspicions of Israeli complicity in the gang’s activities. Last week, the Palestinian resistance factions released footage showing his group engaging in Israeli covert operations. Some of these videos show Yasser’s men working in disguise alongside Israeli undercover units targeting Palestinians in Rafah. In response, the prominent Abu Shabab family in Gaza announced their complete disavowal of Yasser Abu Shabab, their relative, for collaborating with Israel. The statement, issued by the elders and leaders of Abu Shabab family, described the move as a painful but necessary decision. It comes after growing evidence of Yasser’s role in Israeli-backed operations during the ongoing genocide in Gaza. The announcement comes amid growing outrage in Gaza over individuals exploiting the chaos created by Israel’s targeting of security forces. Such collaboration is seen as a betrayal of the community’s suffering under Israel’s ongoing siege, which has displaced over 1.7 million people and killed more than 36,000 since October 7, 2023.