Channel 12, an Israeli television network, has reported—citing a security official—that Israel, in an effort to defeat Hamas and replace the movement, has armed an ISIS-affiliated group in the Rafah area. If this pilot scheme proves successful, it will be implemented throughout Gaza.
According to Channel 12, an Israeli security official told the network that if the experiment of arming the ISIS-linked group in Rafah succeeds and Hamas is defeated, the plan will be rolled out across the entire Gaza Strip.
This move is part of the ongoing efforts and policies of the Israeli regime to fully occupy Gaza, end Hamas’s rule, and establish a new governing body in its place. Meanwhile, Israel’s political leaders have openly rejected any form of Palestinian governance, including the Palestinian Authority.
The security source, confirming Israel’s efforts to bolster ISIS-affiliated groups in Rafah, claimed that arming them has saved Israeli soldiers’ lives. He added that the Israeli military hopes strengthening these groups will lead to the defeat and removal of Hamas from Gaza.
The source also stated that Israel had previously made several unsuccessful attempts to work with local tribes before deciding to arm ISIS-affiliated groups in Rafah.
He said: “If the pilot plan to arm this group succeeds and results in Hamas’s defeat and removal, it will be replaced by this group.”
According to the official, the pilot plan is currently being carried out in areas under complete Israeli military control. He said that, under this plan, the groups are kept within a limited area and are provided with weapons and operational authority.
On Thursday, Avigdor Lieberman, leader of the “Yisrael Beiteinu” party and former Defense Minister, said in an interview with Israeli TV that Israeli security agencies, under orders from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, had transferred weapons to ISIS-affiliated groups in Rafah.
According to Lieberman, Israeli security agencies, following Netanyahu’s orders, have supplied offensive military equipment and light weapons to a group close to ISIS and opposed to Hamas in Rafah.
Lieberman stressed that transferring these weapons to Rafah could create a security threat to Israel, saying: “This operation is being carried out secretly by Shin Bet (the Israeli internal security agency) without cabinet approval.”
However, Netanyahu’s office did not deny Lieberman’s claims, and in a statement said that Israel is, based on the recommendations of all security authorities, using every means and all levers of pressure to defeat Hamas in Gaza.
Meanwhile, Netanyahu criticized Lieberman, claiming that revealing such information only benefits Hamas.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid also criticized the plan, warning: “Weapons that enter Gaza will ultimately be used against Israeli soldiers and civilians.”