Forum Topic

Not Israel's fault - it is Netanyahu's

Times of Israel, 5th June 2025“Netanyahu confirms move: 'It saves lives of IDF soldiers'Israel providing guns to Gaza gang to bolster opposition to HamasSecurity cabinet wasn’t informed of plan to start arming Abu Shabab group, which was created in Rafah last year and has its roots in looting aid trucksBy Emanuel FabianIsrael has been arming a criminal gang in the Gaza Strip as part of an effort to strengthen opposition to Hamas in the enclave, defense sources confirmed on Thursday following remarks on the matter by former defense minister Avigdor Liberman.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later confirmed the report, saying the move helped save Israeli soldiers’ lives.Liberman, who heads the opposition Yisrael Beytenu party, told the Kan public broadcaster on Thursday morning that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had unilaterally approved the transfer of weapons to the Abu Shabab clan, an armed gang or militia that is opposed to Hamas’s rule in the Gaza Strip.“The Israeli government is giving weapons to a group of criminals and felons, identified with Islamic State, at the direction of the prime minister,” Liberman charged. “To my knowledge, this did not go through approval by the cabinet.”He claimed that Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar was aware of the decision to arm the group, “but I don’t know how much the IDF chief of staff was in on it.”The group in question, which is sometimes described as a militia and sometimes as a criminal gang, is led by Yasser Abu Shabab, a member of a large clan in southern Gaza. It has been linked in the past to smuggling operations with Egyptian Jihadist groups, but it was not immediately clear why Liberman branded it as linked to the Islamic State.His gang has been documented in recent days operating in an area near the Kerem Shalom border crossing under Israeli military control.In the footage, which was published online by Abu Shabab, members of the group can be seen wearing military-style uniforms with the Palestinian flag and the words “Counter-Terrorism Mechanism” emblazoned on them.The Prime Minister’s Office, in response to Liberman’s comments, did not deny the allegations but said instead that Israel was “working to defeat Hamas through various means, based on the recommendations of all the heads of the security establishment.”In a later statement, Netanyahu confirmed the move.In the latest installment in a series of short interviews with advisor Topaz Luk his office has posted in recent weeks, Netanyahu said that “in consultation with security officials, we made use of clans in Gaza that are opposed to Hamas.”“What’s wrong with that?” he continued. “It’s only good. It saves lives of IDF soldiers.”“It’s extremely serious,” Netanyahu said of Liberman revealing the move and predicting that it won’t be investigated. “Publicizing it only does good for Hamas.Liberman’s accusation was later confirmed by defense officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity, and the details were cleared for publication by the Israeli military censor.The sources confirmed that Israel has been arming the gang with Kalashnikov rifles, including some that were seized from Hamas during the ongoing war.The decision to start arming the group was made without the approval of Israel’s security cabinet, forgoing normal procedure. It was instead led by Israeli security bodies, with Netanyahu’s approval, the defense sources said.The militia has been operating in Rafah, in an area under Israeli military control. Abu Shabab has claimed to be securing the humanitarian aid convoys entering Israel through the southern border crossings, although others have accused his gang of looting them.Targeted by HamasThe clan has caught Hamas’s attention. Hamas published an official video on May 30 showing a group of armed, masked men operating outside a building before being blown up.The terror group claimed the group in the video was working with the IDF to inspect buildings before Israeli troops moved in, without specifying whether they were Israeli or Palestinian. However, online comparisons to previous images of Abu Shabab’s gang suggested it was the same group.In a conversation with Lebanon’s Al-Akhbar newspaper earlier this week, anonymous Hamas sources shared more information about the group, which they admitted has been a thorn in their side.According to the sources, the militia comprises some 300 people, of whom Abu Shabab personally recruited around 50. They alleged that the remaining 250 members were recruited through the Palestinian Authority’s intelligence service.The Hamas sources did not offer proof of Abu Shabab’s alleged ties to the Ramallah-based PA, and Al-Akhbar did not verify any of the terror group’s claims.The group emerged in Rafah in May 2024, following the IDF invasion of the Strip’s southernmost city, the Hamas sources said. They told Al-Akhbar that the Al-Qassam Brigades have “already started carrying out direct assassinations” against members of Abu Shabab’s gang, and that its continued existence has fast become a “central issue” for the terror group.According to the sources, some members of the group belong to an extremist Salafi faction that had run-ins with Hamas prior to the war as well.This is not the first time that Netanyahu has been involved in or accused of propping up burgeoning militias and terror groups to undermine a common enemy.Various reports over the years have indicated that Israel’s policy under Netanyahu was to treat Hamas as an asset that could be used to weaken the Palestinian Authority.The premier reportedly told a Likud faction meeting back in 2019 that anyone who opposed the establishment of a Palestinian state should support sending funds to Hamas, the enemy of the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority.Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich made a similar claim in an interview in 2015.Amid the outrage generated by Liberman’s revelation on Thursday, the left-wing The Democrats leader Yair Golan pointed out the pattern of behavior.“Netanyahu, who transferred billions to Hamas in suitcases full of cash, based on the incorrect belief that Hamas is an ‘asset,’ is now promoting a new dangerous concept: Arming a Gazan militia with ties to ISIS,” the politician wrote on X.“Netanyahu is dangerous to Israel’s security,” he charged. “This is not a mistake. This is systematic. Netanyahu is selling Israel’s security for another day in office.””

David Ainsworth ● 22d24 Comments

Mr AinsworthThank you for yet another example of how well read you are.You say "The short answer is no — Jews are not a race. People who identify as Jewish include individuals of enormously diverse geographic origins and physical appearances, making the idea that Jews could easily be designated a race in the sense of shared physical or biological characteristics implausible."I should have been more precise and said you are prejudiced against 'citizens of Israel and those that have ancestry derived from residents of that territory and who practice the Jewish faith'.You are not prejudiced against Muslims.If you are seeking to be so precise over the meaning of antisemitism where do you stand on the definition of Islamophobia ?By your reasoning Muslims are not a race but believers in a particular religious faith name Islam.Yet Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member Hina Bokhari - the first woman from an ethnic minority to lead a group on the Assembly - says she and other Muslims are facing increasing levels of Islamophobia."The threat of being attacked because of who I was, being the colour that I was, the faith that I was. I've never had that experience before in my life growing up in this city.There were images of people throwing bricks at mosques and setting buildings on fire. I never thought I would see that day."This follows Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner's plans to  establish a council to advise the government on tackling anti-Muslim hate and defining Islamophobia.The Housing Secretary and prominent Labour figure announces plans to draft an official definition of Islamophobia.Do you think she should ?Yet a phobia is a type of anxiety disorder. It is an extreme form of fear or anxiety, triggered by a particular situation or object.Antisemitism or Jew-hatred is hostility to, prejudice towards, or discrimination against Jews.Islamophobia would be an anxiety disorder triggered by a fear of Islam.Recalling what atrocities over the recent decades that have been perpetrated in the name of Islam, such a phobia is not totally unwarranted.

John Hawkes ● 20d

"Why not listen to Jewish people and speak to them with more respect?"Give me some examples of ny lack of respect to back that up, please. You don't need to quote them, if you would prefer not. Just date and time."Are there any other subjects or people that rile you up so much that you almost take over a local forum to spout bile?"Take over! You obviously never noticed that I did not post on the Forum at all between 5th October 2023 and 29th June 2024. 9 months off. Or between 6th March 2025 and 14th June 2025. 3 months off.I only restarted then because I wanted to disagree with Mr Brigo (with whom I usually agree) when he spoke lightly of the nuclear bombing of Israel. So a year off in under 2 years. And yes an inability to hold my resolve to stay off.As for almost taking over a local forum to spout bile, you know you may be confusing me with Mr Hawkes.

David Ainsworth ● 21d

"What would you say then?  Nothing sexist or creepy I hope!"You had better ask Mr Hawkes. It really is his fantasy invention.

David Ainsworth ● 21d

What would you say then?  Nothing sexist or creepy I hope!

Sue Hammond ● 21d

‘Ad hominem ‘generally refers to attacks directed to the person themselves ie personal attacks on other members of the forum not on politicians.

Jane Carter ● 21d

You reject good advice? Feel free.

David Ainsworth ● 21d

"He goes for complete racial groups providing they are Jewish."Oh dear, Mr Hawkes."Antisemitism & BigotryAre Jews a Race?Jews include individuals of enormously diverse origins and physical appearances, making the idea that Jews could easily be designated a race implausible.By My Jewish Learning"https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/are-jews-a-race/"The short answer is no — Jews are not a race. People who identify as Jewish include individuals of enormously diverse geographic origins and physical appearances, making the idea that Jews could easily be designated a race in the sense of shared physical or biological characteristics implausible.Jews historically have defined themselves as a people, the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Converts are also considered descendants of these patriarchal ancestors. Colloquially, Jews also sometimes describe themselves as a tribe.""The Antisemitic Assumption that Jews Are a RaceEarly forms of anti-Jewish animus tended to root themselves in opposition to Jews as a religion, seeing Jews as killers of Christ and deniers of the Christian claim to be God’s new chosen people. The liberation of Jerusalem during the Crusades and the forced conversions of the Inquisition were driven by this kind of thinking. Jews who accepted Christ and stopped practicing Judaism could be spared the sword. But in modern times, antisemites have more commonly viewed Jews as a distinct (and inferior) race, a designation from which there is no escape by conversion. Most nefariously, this idea was used by Hitler to justify the extermination of millions of Jews during the Holocaust, deeming them racially inferior to pure Aryan stock. Modern antisemitism continues to root itself in the claim that Jews are racially distinct. "

David Ainsworth ● 21d

Ms CarterHave you missed this one ?David AinsworthDate/Time: 02/07/25 15:57:00"I may be wrong; I am not a psychiatrist."'Not completely wrong. You certainly appear to be in need of one'.

John Hawkes ● 21d

Ms Carter'David does not indulge in ad hominem attacks'.Except against Netanyahu and Trump I recall.But perhaps you are right.He goes for complete racial groups providing they are Jewish.

John Hawkes ● 21d

Mr RoseMr Whateverhisnameis is not well informed in terms of having researched and read up on on a subject and hence can produce a balanced argument which also gives credit to the views of others who have done the same.He is a typical net trawler whose latest posting that goes on and on and on and on....spews out words and claims in no context, with a very few gobbits of fact, in order to grind down those he refuses to genuinely engage with.He would not get a recall to speak at the Oxford Union but might at the Socialist Workers Party's next AGM.

John Hawkes ● 21d

"I may be wrong; I am not a psychiatrist."Not completely wrong. You certainly appear to be in need of one."I wonder what Party Mr Ainsworth supports and what he might have to say to the Prime Minister's Jewish wife on the Middle East situation."I wouldn't mention politics, as she is rather gorgeous.

David Ainsworth ● 21d

Mr Aswoth'Feel free to ignore me'Who are you ?

John Hawkes ● 21d

Ms Grant'Mr Ainsworth, why are you so obsessed with Israel, Netanyahu and Jews in general?'Isn't that a good question.I think it is the result of a psychotic mental unbalance where a person has to pick on some alien group, usually of a different race, and make vile and excessive accusations concerning their beliefs and behaviour in order to feel superior in terms of some distorted self-defined moral standards.That is why of course some white social groups are so racist towards non-whites.Let's face it.In the context of being under attack by Islamic terrorists, Israel is hardly the most worthy of approbation as the world's most wicked state.Russia, China, Iran.....With Mr Ainsworth he uses Jews as his racist target but is too cowardly to admit it.He would not like to be described as a racist 'yobbo' !He hides this racial prejudice under the cover of claiming he is just defending the poor, innocent and oppressed, in his patronising terms, Palestinians.But they are just a means of massaging an obviously fragile ego and desire to be seen in an an aura of empathy for 'the weak of the earth'.I may be wrong; I am not a psychiatrist.I write this of course with the kindest and friendliest of attitudes as someone suggested we should on this Forum !Oh also Ms Grant your final paragraph is spot on.I wonder what Party Mr Ainsworth supports and what he might have to say to the Prime Minister's Jewish wife on the Middle East situation.

John Hawkes ● 21d

"Long quotations are a bit pointless"Possibly/probably - but so are web links often. And at least my chosen stuff is there for people to ignore.

David Ainsworth ● 21d

I think it would be more in the spirit of the olive branch proposed by Yvonne to focus on the issues rather than personal attacks on other members of the forum. Long quotations are a bit pointless but David does not indulge in ad hominem attacks

Jane Carter ● 21d

Feel free to ignore me.

David Ainsworth ● 21d

I'm sure you're right Steven.

Lucille Grant ● 21d

Lucille, in my experience there is no point in engaging with David Ainsworth. In general he is not so much interested in exchanging views as in showing a) how well informed he is (hence the excessively long quotations from published sources) and b) how smart he is (hence the the faux-intelligent queries like ‘evidence please’ in many of his posts). On Israel, in particular, he is not just obsessed but extremely biased, selecting only evidence which supports his point of view while ignoring any contradictory facts.I don’t think Jewish people should be regarded as the ultimate arbiters of what constitutes anti-Semitism, any more than black people should have the right to define what racism means. Nevertheless their views should be considered with care as they are the potential victims of any hate speech. In the case of Vylan’s rant, however, one doesn’t have to take the word of the Chief Rabbi or Jewish people that it was not just ‘tasteless’ or ‘rude’ but virulently anti-Semitic. One only has to listen to the Prime Minister, the Culture Secretary, Offcom, the BBC itself and, hopefully, the CPS.

Steven Rose ● 21d

Mr Ainsworth, why are you so obsessed with Israel, Netanyahu and Jews in general? #askingforafriend. Are there any other subjects or people that rile you up so much that you almost take over a local forum to spout bile? You are not the only one but you are by far the worst. Ivonne's thread about extending an olive branch obviously passed you by.A personal anecdote: There is a coffee shop near where I live that I pass most days. I noticed a young man wearing a keffiyeh a few times and last week decided to approach him. I introduced myself as being Jewish.  We had a very interesting and amenable discussion, talking about our personal histories. I won't state where his family originated from even though he himself was born in Britain, and we came away each having a far better understanding of one another's points of view than before.He was shocked at the issues of anti semitism British Jews face today (every day brings another experience of Jewish people being harrassed in our hometown as well as elsewhere in the UK) and said that if he or his friends ever encounter any anti semitism on the pro Palestinian marches he speaks up against it. I may be naive but I have no reason to doubt him.It is not just the UK feigning (!)'shock and horror about some obscure duo being rude'. This has been news in the USA (hence the visa cancellation) France and elsewhere and people are shocked at the language used. It is seen as incendiary to violence. But you know that already.Why not listen to Jewish people and speak to them with more respect? Your fellow Jewish citizens are not accountable (even though we, and fortunately many non Jews, support Israel's right to its existence) for the actions of the Israeli Government, just as no Brit is accountable for what our respective governments do, other than voting at the ballot box the same as Israeli citizens.

Lucille Grant ● 21d

'Kind of like' when Israel supported her Christian Lebanese allies during her 1982 invasion of Lebanon."The Sabra and Shatila massacre was the 16–18 September 1982 killing of between 1,300 and 3,500 civilians—mostly Palestinians and Lebanese Shias—in the city of Beirut during the Lebanese Civil War. It was perpetrated by the Lebanese Forces, one of the main Christian militias in Lebanon, and supported by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) that had surrounded Beirut's Sabra neighbourhood and the adjacent Shatila refugee camp.""As the massacre unfolded, the IDF received reports of atrocities being committed, but did not take any action to stop it. Instead, Israeli troops were stationed at the exits of the area to prevent the camp's residents from leaving and, at the request of the Lebanese Forces, shot flares to illuminate Sabra and Shatila through the night during the massacre."

David Ainsworth ● 22d

"Has it been verified at all or similar contents published by other media?"Well, it has been around for a while. Even Mr Hawkes can verify that."‘Post-apocalyptic’: medical staff struggle as gangs fight over aid supplies in Gaza"https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jun/29/medical-staff-struggle-gangs-fight-aid-supplies-gaza?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other"Netanyahu confirms Israel arming clans opposed to Hamas in Gaza"https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwyn2m9yk0vo"Netanyahu admits Israel backing ‘criminal’ groups, rivals of Hamas, in GazaFirst acknowledgement Israel using armed gangs, which aid groups have accused of stealing aid from trucks."https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/6/5/netanyahu-admits-israel-backed-armed-rivals-of-hamas-in-gazaBoth Daily Mail and Telegraph show on Google as having this kind of story too (the Spectator just seems to have grooming gangs articles when I Googled it).If you need verification, this may do. Anyway, if Netanyahu actually admits it, it might well be true, although you never know with him."Explosive"? Really? Na, not here. The UK prefers feigned shock and horror about some obscure duo being rude about an overwhelmingly powerful  army. "Chief Rabbi attacks BBC for airing 'vile Jew hate'" at Glastonbury. Meanwhile a few hundred Palestinians die in Gaza over the 5 days of Glastonbury. Mostly IDF bombs and missiles at a guess (from USA with love?). No hate involved at all. So it goes.

David Ainsworth ● 22d

'Kind of like' when the Allies armed Stalin in order to defeat Hitler.

Steven Rose ● 22d

Hello David,This is an incredibly "explosive" article.Has it been verified at all or similar contents published by other media?Thank you.

Ivonne Holliday ● 22d

Kind of like when we armed the Afghan mujahideen - that worked out well

Michael Brigo ● 22d