To: Les H who wrote (47764 ) 9/18/2025 9:57:19 AM From: Les H Read Replies (1) | Respond to Israel Using Gazan Militias for Military Operations in Exchange for Pay and TerritoryNew testimonies reveal that the IDF and Shin Bet are now coordinating with organized Gazan militias in active combat roles. Soldiers and commanders are worried that these groups could act unpredictably and trigger chaos on the ground Each militia consists of dozens of armed men, most from prominent Gaza clans, including the Abu Shabab family. In addition to receiving cash payments, the militias are allowed to carry weapons, which enables them to profit by controlling aid truck routes and charging for the right to set up tents in areas with high civilian presence. According to the IDF, the Shin Bet oversees the militias' operations and recruits fighters alongside their leaders. Unlike earlier civilian recruits, once known as shawishim, these militias now participate in substantial combat activities. They operate primarily in the southern Gaza Strip, particularly Rafah and Khan Yunis. Although the IDF and Shin Bet manage militia activities, many commanders on the ground express concern over the consequences. "It reminds me of Sabra and Shatila," one commander said, referring to the 1982 massacre in the Beirut refugee camps where allied militias, under Israeli oversight, killed hundreds of civilians. "It looks like something that will eventually blow up in our faces," he added. "They aren't truly under control, and they have no command obligation to the officers responsible for the battlefield. Tomorrow, if they massacre dozens of people, who will be held accountable? Whose responsibility will it be? They'll pin it on the officer in charge of the sector and ruin his life." Haaretz Newarab
