Israel continues to back Gazan militias even after the October ceasefire to fight Hamas in portions of the Strip under the terror group's control over the Yellow Line, the Wall Street Journal has reported.
Prior to the ceasefire, it was confirmed that Israel, generally through the Shin Bet, but sometimes also in conjunction with the IDF, would provide various kinds of support to such Gaza militias as Abu Shabab.
In fact, when the former leader of Abu Shabab, Yasser Abu Shabab, was mortally wounded on December 4, he was even publicly brought to an Israeli hospital to try to save his life.
Most of the groups are in the deep southern Rafah part of Gaza, where Israel's control of Gaza is the largest.
Since the ceasefire, anti-Hamas groups have been out of the news
However, since the ceasefire, these groups have been in the news less, given that Israel could be seen as undermining the ceasefire.
Earlier this month, Hussam Al Astal, the leader of one of the groups, boasted about the killing of a police official in Hamas-controlled territory and said more such attacks are planned, according to the Journal report.
“We say to Hamas and everyone affiliated with Hamas: Just as we reached him, we will come for you, too,” said Astal in a video message that showed him brandishing an assault rifle.
Israel’s support for these pop-up militias is extensive even after the ceasefire, providing air support from drones, and sharing intelligence, weapons, cigarettes, and food, Israeli officials and military reservists told the Journal.
Despite Israeli forces being limited by the terms of a cease-fire with Hamas, the Gazan militias can still attack Hamas in its portion of Gaza, which is supposed to be off-limits to Israeli troops, including Al Mawasi, where Hamas said Astal’s men killed the police official, the Journal reported.
Astal's group includes dozens of gunmen living in an Israeli-controlled part of Gaza, but, the Journal noted, who move over the Yellow Line when carrying out an attack.
The broader impact of these militias against Hamas has been limited, but is still viewed as having some effect on undermining the terror group's image of invincibility as Gaza's rulers.