Israeli General Proposes Arming Gaza Clans to Undermine Hamas Rule
Retired General Amit Yagur suggests using local clans as a transitional force in Gaza to weaken Hamas control, arguing it is a strategic alternative to both military occupation and Palestinian statehood..
Watan-Israeli reserve general Amit Yagur, former head of the Palestinian Affairs Division in Military Intelligence, suggests that arming local clans in Gaza could be the key to dismantling Hamas’s influence. In an article published in Maariv, Yagur argues that the current rejection of all governance alternatives has created a political deadlock that only a bold shift—like leveraging clan networks—can break.
Yagur notes that critics of the idea focus only on the “no”s—no to Israeli military administration (due to high costs), no to the Palestinian Authority (viewed as ineffective and politically motivated), and no to using local militias, even for humanitarian coordination like aid distribution.
“We must explore the potential ‘yes’ — the strategic use of clans to erode Hamas’s grip and help end the war, which remains our guiding goal,” Yagur writes.
Clans as Transitional Tools
Yagur justifies his proposal by highlighting the civilian control Hamas maintains, particularly in food distribution. He posits that creating a U.S.-led civil committee, backed by Arab states (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt), could manage Gaza’s administration during a transitional phase.
He references a recent report suggesting that one Arab country is already training local militias, notably members of the Yasser Abu Shabab clan, known for ideological opposition to Hamas and affiliation with Fatah.
“The objective,” says Yagur, “is to gradually strip Hamas of its sovereignty—this is the path to freeing hostages, dismantling Hamas, and ending the war.”
Avoiding Statehood or Military Rule
Yagur insists this strategy avoids two critical extremes:
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Imposing direct Israeli military rule
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Facilitating the rise of a Palestinian state
He emphasizes that, at this stage, local militias are not governing Gaza, but are merely assisting in aid logistics outside of Hamas’s control.
“This step is essential—and possibly decisive—for ending the war. It represents the viable ‘yes’ at this critical moment,” he concludes.
Political Background and Implications
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has long pursued the geopolitical split between Gaza and the West Bank, using it as evidence that Palestinians are too divided for statehood. Yagur’s proposal fits this strategy, offering a non-state, non-PA transitional solution that could perpetuate the political fragmentation of the Palestinian territories.
