Palestinian groups fighting Hamas in Israel’s interest

Palestinian tribal gangs in Gaza fighting against Hamas is in Israel’s interest, former top Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) official Shalom Ben Hanan told The Jerusalem Post on Thursday.

He was responding to the controversy about the agency providing weapons to such groups under orders from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Ben Hanan retired in 2022 after 27 years in the agency at the equivalent rank of a major-general in charge of a whole division in comparison to IDF ranks, and was on Netanyahu’s shortlist in the running for the agency’s chief this spring.

“According to reports, the phenomenon of arming Palestinian tribal gangs to harm Hamas is a positive development – this is saving the lives of our soldiers,” in various cases, he said.

In other words, if Gazan Palestinians