Palestinian man denies leading new Gaza gang following Israeli report
A Palestinian man has denied leading a new anti-Hamas militia in Gaza after being named as its leader in an Israeli media report.
Ynet news outlet reported on Wednesday said that Israel was arming and funding two new criminal gangs in the Gaza Strip, in the latest push to sow chaos and lawlessness.
The report said the two armed groups were operating in Khan Younis and Gaza City and are affiliated with the Palestinian Authority (PA), a political rival of Hamas.
It said they follow in the footsteps of the gang led by Yasser Abu Shabab - a former criminal prisoner-turned-militia leader - who has coordinated with Israeli forces in Rafah to loot humanitarian aid and shoot at Palestinians.
In addition to receiving arms and support from Israel, members of the two new gangs were reportedly on the PA’s payroll, according to Ynet.
New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch
Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters
The article named Yasser Khanidak as the leader of one group operating in Khan Younis, and Rami Helles as heading the other in eastern Gaza City.
However, on Thursday, Khanidak released a video statement - aired by Al Jazeera and other local outlets - firmly rejecting the allegations.
He denied any links to Israeli forces or the PA and expressed his support for the “resistance,” a term commonly used to refer to Hamas and other armed factions opposing Israeli occupation.
There has been no immediate comment from Helles. However, the Helles clan issued a statement condemning any form of cooperation with Israeli forces and distancing the family from the Ynet report.
‘What’s wrong with that?’
Last month, it was revealed that Israel had armed and financed the Abu Shabab gang, in what appeared to be an Israeli strategy to foster instability in the besieged Gaza Strip.
Hamas on Wednesday issued a 10-day ultimatum to Yasser Abu Shabab, the gang's leader, demanding he surrender to authorities in Gaza.
Hamas has accused Abu Shabab of treason, collaboration with hostile entities, forming an armed militia, and inciting armed rebellion.
Following public exposure of Israel's links to the gang, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the move.
“We made use of clans in Gaza that are opposed to Hamas... What’s wrong with that?” he said in a post on X (formerly Twitter). “It’s only good. It saves the lives of Israeli soldiers.”
The Abu Shabab gang has also been linked to the widely criticised aid scheme operated by the Israeli- and US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which began limited food distribution in May.
Since then, Israeli forces have killed at least 600 Palestinians and wounded over 4,000 wounded at or near GHF aid points, according to the Palestinian health ministry.
Last week, Haaretz reported that Israeli military officials admitted firing on unarmed civilians queuing for aid, even when no threat was present.
Soldiers said they had been instructed to shoot at crowds near distribution sites and confirmed that civilians had been killed due to "inaccurate and uncalculated" artillery fire.
On Wednesday, the PA revealed that US security contractors working with the GHF also fired live rounds and stun grenades at hungry Palestinians attempting to collect aid.
Middle East Eye delivers independent and unrivalled coverage and analysis of the Middle East, North Africa and beyond. To learn more about republishing this content and the associated fees, please fill out this form. More about MEE can be found here.
