Israeli Fears of Losing Control Over Militias They Operate in Gaza

SadaNews - The occupying army continues to use local entities by operating armed militias in the Gaza Strip, amid Israeli security concerns about these groups, which have received salaries and extensive field authority, transforming into an uncontrollable rogue force.

Officers and soldiers serving in Gaza explained that the phenomenon began with the use of local citizens as human shields since the outbreak of the war during searches of tunnels and buildings. However, in recent weeks, "recruitment has expanded to include entire groups that sometimes operate outside the direct control of Israeli forces."

Israeli reports and local sources revealed that the occupying army started during the past year to operate three local militias in the Gaza Strip, specifically: the Abu Shabab group, a formation led by Rami Hless in northern Gaza, and a third group led by Yasser Hunaidi in Khan Yunis.

The reports stated that these groups operate in direct coordination with Israeli forces and receive logistical support and salaries as part of efforts to undermine Hamas's control in the region. Soldiers and officers who spoke to Haaretz noted that the occupying army has expanded its use of these militias.

The soldiers indicated that each militia comprises dozens of armed men, most of whom belong to large and well-known families in Gaza. They noted that these groups receive, in addition to funds, permits to carry weapons, enabling them to gain additional advantages by controlling the routes for aid trucks and obtaining privileges to set up tents in locations where displaced people gather.

According to the report, the Shin Bet is responsible for recruiting the leaders and members of these militias, unlike what was previously known as the "Shavchim" (Hebrew for the plural of "Shavach"), who were assigned secondary tasks. The militias have now begun to carry out significant field operations.

The activities of these militias are concentrated in the southern region, particularly in Rafah and Khan Yunis. On August 22, a Facebook page belonging to Yasser Abu Shabab posted a recruitment announcement for "security men," specifying salaries of 3,000 shekels monthly for a soldier and 5,000 shekels for an officer.

Field officers expressed their concern over this practice, with one leader stating: "This reminds me of the Sabra and Shatila massacre; it seems like something that could turn against us. There is no real control over them, and they do not adhere to any command discipline. Tomorrow they might commit a massacre involving dozens of civilians; who will be responsible?"

Other officers added that the army employs these militias in sensitive and crowded areas, where they receive "significant and important tasks," after previously being assigned only to "dirty work." One soldier remarked that the army and the Shin Bet no longer hide the existence of these groups.

One soldier said, "They are training for operations right before our eyes," while another fighter in the occupying army added: "We see them in groups of five to ten armed men. Sometimes they trigger alerts in our forces because they do not inform us of their movements."

The occupying army has recently begun to register these militias in its command and control systems as though they were official forces. An officer in a central unit stated: "They generally tell us what their mission is, but we do not know the ultimate goal. They ask us not to impede them and to allow them to move freely."

Officers and fighters spoke of recurring tensions with these militias due to their operations near Israeli forces and their bypassing of routes without coordination, which creates "a very serious difficulty in field coordination," as they described.