Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday (June 5) said that Israel's "operating" of Gazan militia was saving the lives of Israeli soldiers fighting in the Palestinian territory.

"We have operated clans in Gaza who oppose Hamas," Netanyahu said in a video published on his Facebook account on Thursday (June 5).

"What’s wrong with that? It is only good. It only saves IDF soldiers’ lives," he said in the video statement released after Israeli opposition lawmaker Avigdor Lieberman accused the government of arming Palestinian militia perceived to be hostile to Hamas in Gaza.

Netanyahu also criticised Lieberman, saying the "leak" benefited Hamas.

Israeli media reported that Israel had transferred weapons to Yasser Abu Shabab, a leader of a large clan in the Rafah area, now under full Israeli army control.

Abu Shabab previously said that he was building up a force to secure aid deliveries into some parts of Gaza.

Israel launched an offensive against the Islamist group Hamas that rules Gaza after its militants led an attack on southern Israeli communities on Oct. 7, 2023, killing 1,200 and kidnapping over 250 others, mostly civilians.

Israel's campaign in Gaza has killed over 54,000 Palestinians.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

GIVEN AS YERUHAM, ISRAEL (RELEASED JUNE 5, 2025) (ORIGINALLY FILMED IN PORTRAIT) (BENJAMIN NETANYAHU VIA FACEBOOK - No Resale / No archive / Must on screen courtesy 'Benjamin Netanyahu via Facebook')

1. (SOUNDBITE) (Hebrew) ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU FACING CAMERA, SAYING:

(QUESTION: Prime minister, just a question: Lieberman published a secret security information for political gain. Your comment?)

"It’s very grave. (JUMP CUT FROM SOURCE) Because – what did Lieberman leak? What did he leak and publish? That with the advice of security forces, we have operated clans in Gaza who oppose Hamas. What’s wrong with that? It is only good. It only saves IDF soldiers’ lives. And publishing this, publishing this is benefiting only Hamas."