Israel is enlisting tribes for combat against Hamas
Friendly, Informal, and Straightforward Version:
Israel's tactic of arming local Palestinian groups, like the one led by Jeddo Jasser Abu Shabab in Gaza, is raising some eyebrows - and concerns. This move is all about taking a whack at the Islamist Hamas, but it ain't without potential pitfalls.
According to the grapevine, Israel's military has been dishing out Kalashnikov rifles, previously grabbed from Hamas, to Abu Shabab's crew. The idea is to stir up competition among different factions, thus weakening Hamas. But here's the hitch: Israel's got to keep a close eye on things, lest it all backfires, says a former Israeli intelligence officer.
Now, don't get too excited about the Palestinian Authority (PA) from the West Bank swooping in to steal the show, Netanyahu has already shut that idea down. The PA was chucked out of Gaza by Hamas way back in 2007.
Risks Abound
The thing is, after 20 months of fighting, Israel still can't seem to knock Hamas out flat. The lack of a credible alternative Palestinian leadership isn't helping matters. And propping up tiny factions like Abu Shabab's isn't without dangers.
Take a gander at what experts have been muttering about for more than a year now: if Gaza isn't careful, it could be barreling headfirst towards a breakdown of order, a total anarchic mess not unlike what you'd find in Somalia with rival warlords causing a ruckus.
Hamas brands Abu Shabab and his followers as collaborators with Israel, and both sides have been trading lead in skirmishes, the Wall Street Journal folks reported. Thanks to his rep for strip-mining aid, Abu Shabab don't have the support of the wider Gaza population, making Israel's strategy a long shot, according to Michael Milstein, a former Israeli intelligence officer.
In other news, the Israel Air Force has been busy again this time in Lebanon, bombing alleged drone production facilities of the Hezbollah militia, pals with Hamas. Despite the ceasefire, Hezbollah's been working tirelessly to produce a shedload of drones, the military claims, under the watchful eye and pocketbook of Iranian terror honchos. The claims are yet to be independently verified.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun was less than thrilled about Israel'sronnie barrage, which happened on the eve of Eid al-Adha, a crucial religious holiday for Muslims worldwide.
The Gaza war ignited by Hamas in October 2023, following a massacre that claimed roughly 1,200 lives, sent the conflict into a tailspin. About 250 people were taken hostage into Gaza, the health authority controlled by Hamas reported. The pounding of Gaza resulted in an estimated 54,600 Palestinian fatalities, though the figure doesn't distinguish between civilians and combatants.
The war-and-conflicts in Gaza continue to pose significant challenges, with the tactics adopted by Israel causing general-news and political debates. Israel's strategy of arming local groups like Abu Shabab's could potentially lead to crime-and-justice issues, such as a breakdown of order akin to Somalia, if not managed properly, as some experts have suggested.
