Israeli admission: armed Gaza militias failed – and could turn against Israel
Members of an Israeli-backed armed group in Gaza pose in an image circulated by the faction
The Palestine Chronicle reports on 22 June 2026:
Key Takeaways
- Israeli-backed militias have failed to emerge as a meaningful alternative to Hamas.
- Former Israeli intelligence officials warn the project may ultimately threaten Israel itself.
- The groups remain small, isolated, and largely rejected by Palestinians despite extensive Israeli support.
For more than two years, Israel has quietly pursued what many officials hoped would become one of the central pillars of its genocide strategy in Gaza: the creation of locally armed Palestinian groups capable of challenging Hamas, administering territory, and eventually serving as an alternative governing force inside the Strip.
Today, according to an investigation published by the Israeli news outlet Zman Israel, even some of Israel’s own analysts, former intelligence officials, and security experts are openly questioning whether the entire project has failed.
Far from becoming a viable alternative to Hamas, the militias remain fragmented, geographically isolated, dependent on Israeli protection, and largely devoid of public legitimacy. More alarmingly for Israel, experts now warn that the weapons, training, and capabilities provided to these groups could eventually be turned against the occupation itself. The report reveals growing frustration inside Israeli policy circles as efforts to engineer a new political reality in Gaza continue to fall short.
A Project Built in Secrecy
According to Zman Israel, Israel has spent the past year supplying anti-Hamas armed groups with extensive support, including weapons, intelligence, food supplies, logistical assistance, air support, and medical treatment for wounded fighters inside Israel. The investigation points to evidence suggesting that some groups may now be receiving increasingly sophisticated military equipment.
In May, one militia published footage showing one of its members operating what appeared to be a large military-grade drone, prompting fresh concerns among Israeli observers regarding the nature of the support being provided. Yet despite the resources invested, much of the project remains shrouded in secrecy.
Israeli authorities have repeatedly refused to answer questions regarding the militias’ structure, funding, operational objectives, or long-term role in Gaza. The Israeli military declined to comment on whether advanced equipment seen in militia videos originated from Israel, while the Prime Minister’s Office and Defense Ministry also avoided substantive responses.
The absence of transparency has become one of the central criticisms raised by Israeli experts themselves.